BBC Radio 2 marks 60 years of Blue Peter

A special hour-long documentary marking 60 years of Blue Peter will air on BBC Radio 2 this week.

Radio indie Made in Manchester has been asked to turn around the documentary in time for the anniversary of its first broadcast on October 16th, 1958.

Happy Birthday Blue Peter is presented by former host Barney Harward and will air on Tuesday, October 16th, from 9-10pm.

Executive Producer Ashley Byrne told RadioToday:”The show is packed with stories from the programme’s six decades. We’ve loads of presenters from every era including very first female host Leila Williams plus a few surprise birthday messages from classic children’s characters like Sooty, Basil Brush and Zippy from Rainbow along the way. It’s quite a nostalgia fest.”

“Of course among the funniest anecdotes are those referencing the other big stars of Blue Peter – the pets and animals who wreaked havoc over the years.’”

Among those popping up across the hour through new interviews are Valerie Singleton, Peter Purves, Sarah Greene, Peter Duncan, Yvette Fielding, Tim Vincent, Matt Baker, Stuart Miles, Stuart Thomas and Liz Barker.

There’s also contributions from Caron Keating’s mum, broadcaster Gloria Hunniford, former BP editors Biddy Baxter and Lewis Bronze and the programme’s longtime film producer Alex Leger.

Happy Birthday Blue Peter is presented by Blue Peter presenter number 35, Barney Harwood and produced by Ashley Byrne, Iain Mackness and Andrew White. It’s a Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 2.