More than 40 years old I hope this iconic show will be here for another 40! (Blue Peter)

Member Name: Renza_e

Product:	Blue Peter
Date:	28/01/09 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great variety, Enthusiastic presenters, iconic

Disadvantages: When a presenter had to go and a pet died, Bacon being stupid with drugs

I don't watch 'Blue Peter' anymore so find it very strange to see new faces on the programme. However, it is probably also a bad thing that the only reason I don't watch it is because I don't really have a TV anymore at uni - I generally just depend on Iplayer and it was not until recently that I discovered that you could actually find it on Iplayer. Am I a big kid or what?
'Blue Peter' is one of those wonderful programmes whereby each generation gets attached it to it in relation to the era they grew up in. If you get nostalgic about children's TV you often think about the presenters you grew up watching. I always remember the chirpy Konnie Huq who was there for over a decade (what stamina!) and the cheery Matt Baker and his remarkably well-behaved dog Meg. Goodness I can even reminisce positively over that Richard Bacon who was stupid enough to do cocaine. I remember when they announced he was leaving. I didn't quite understand why but they very sensitively announced it to us. Blue Peter was one of those programmes whereby you did miss the presenters if they left and you'd gotten attached to them. It was also quite sad when some of the animals died. I think it was probably a good thing Matt took away Meg as you'd have some children in mourning when she eventually did go to 'doggy heaven.'
Whilst Blue Peter is a bit 'goody goody', maybe too much for some children, I always quite enjoyed that aspect. Moreover, there was and still is some very interesting stuff on the show. It opens you up to different cultures in different parts of the world and in UK itself; it features performances from a whole range of different artists, from classical to pop and kids can even send in there own pictures and works of art as well as joining in competitions so they can get involved too. They also encourage kids to be charitable and kind organising charity appeals and getting viewers to fundraise.
I always enjoyed the little 'trips' back in history when the presenters would dress up as a famous historical figure and explain there story, often surrounding by the historical backdrop of a place that person had lived in.

Blue Peter is an iconic show that has become embedded in popular culture. It has a distinctive theme tune and logo. It has been on TV since the 60s and coined famous phrases like 'And here's one I made earlier' and, surprisingly, 'Now for something completely different' which is now more famously associated with Monty Python who went and nabbed it. This show is great and is still great with its terrific format, enthusiastic presenters and interesting features. It is so famous that it even featured in a Doctor Who episode, Matt Baker making his very own alien cake on a TV a child was watching. I only hope that it continues to last on the BBC and doesn't go the same way as 'Top of the Pops' (another programme I loved). If I should ever have children I'd hope that they would watch this and that my children's children would too.

Summary: There's a good reason this has lasted so long