Blue Peter debuted in October 16, 1958 on the BBC as a 15-minute black-and-white broadcast and was the brainchild of BBC producer John Hunter Blair, who was commissioned to fill an output gap for children's programming.
Actor Christopher Trace and former Miss Great Britain beauty queen Leila Williams in 1957 became its first presenters, with several major cast changes replacing the original characters since then.
“Do you remember who you were back then?
— CBBC (@cbbc) October 14, 2018
Your plans, your hopes, your dreams…” 💙⛵️
Tony Walsh's beautiful tribute to Blue Peter will give you goosebumps.@LongfellaPoet pic.twitter.com/f6QoAzNymU
The show grew in popularity by the mid-1960s after became a wildly successful children's program, with over 37 presenters and roughly 5,000 episodes to date.
Mr. Trace's catch phrases such as "Here's one I made earlier" took hold of British audiences, with another phrase, "And now for something completely different," being adopted by British surrealist comedy troupe Monty Python.
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The 60-year anniversary show will broadcast at 5pm on the CBBC Channel as well as live-streamed on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.
Former presenters such as Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves will reunite with Lindsey Russel and Radzi Chinyanganya, the current lineup, for a signature craft session. The show will feature singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who will get his own personal Blue Peter badge.
The Blue Peter badge features the iconic Blue Peter Galleon, which was designed by TV artist Tony Hart and symbolizes a voyage of adventure and discovery, the BBC noted. The first badge was awarded in June 1963.
Welsh actress Dawn French tweeted her support for the upcoming broadcast while fawning over her own Blue Peter badge, calling it "a prized possession."
"What memories," she tweeted.
Oh this is FABULOUS! My Blue Peter badge is a prized possession. What memories. Congrats #tonywalsh & @cbbc https://t.co/1zNmjurLLi
— Dawn French (@Dawn_French) October 14, 2018
Other Blue Peter badges include former UK prime minister Tony Blair, American artist and actress Madonna, and Scottish actor David Tennant. Even Queen Elizabeth II and awarded the Gold badge, normally given to those showing outstanding bravery or representing the country internationally.
Former Blue Peter presenter Stuart Miles shared his joy live from the event, with British comedy duo Dick and Dom tweeting their support.
It’s happening 😀 #BluePeter60 pic.twitter.com/1bdfk65JAy
— Stuart Miles (@Stuart_Miles) October 16, 2018
Blue Peter is 60 today…..AND MY DAD IS 80 TODAY!!!!!! Happy Birthday chap. Love being 50% of you.
— Dick and Dom (@dickndom) October 16, 2018
However, not everyone was as excited about the show's festivities.
"With all this Blue Peter fluff going on, is there going to be anything to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its psychedelic rival, Magpie?" singer-songwriter Billy Bragg tweeted. "It like a pair of embroidered loon pants compared to the neat slacks of Blue Peter."
With all this Blue Peter fluff going on, is there going to be anything to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its psychedelic rival, Magpie? It like a pair of embroidered loon pants compared to the neat slacks of Blue Peter https://t.co/BKQeL6Dy4h
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) October 16, 2018
