“Here’s one I made earlier”
“Here’s one I made earlier.” Remember that phrase? I suspect many of you do. They became by-words for creativity; encouraging kids to turn cereal boxes and sticky back plastic into all manner of colourful play things.
For generations of us it wasn’t only an entertainment show, but one of our main sources of insight and news. It’s rather poignant then, that Blue Peter is currently in the news – BBC ONE have decided to relegate the iconic show after 54 years.
It will now appear on the digital channel CBBC. Katy Hill, a regular presenter during the 90’s said: “It saddens me that the show won’t have the incredible influence on the lives of my children that it had on me.” I’m sure many parents feel the same.
It’s the end of an era, for sure; but it’s not the end of Blue Peter (unlike TOTP and Grandstand.) Hopefully the show will find a discerning audience in its new digital landscape (current viewing figures are 300,000, compared with 10 million at its peak.) It certainly has its work cut out, but it can do it.
So, in the spirit of optimism – may that Big Blue Galleon get fresh wind in its sails and continue to cruise ONWARDS.
Post by Gerry Smith
