Blue Peter

*Blue Peter*
Blue Peter
	Show logo (2021–present)
Genre	Entertainment
Created by	John Hunter Blair
Presented by	Joel Mawhinney; Abby Cook; Shini Muthukrishnan; (See full list)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	5,294 (as of 13 October 2023) (list of episodes)
Production
Production locations	BBC Lime Grove Studios (1958–1960); BBC Television Centre (1960–2011); dock10 studios (2011–present)
Running time	15 minutes (1958–1960s); 25 minutes (1960s–2008); 35 minutes (2005–2006; CBBC Channel Extension); 24 minutes (2008–2011); 28 minutes (2012–); 60 minutes (birthday specials and documentaries)
Production companies	BBC Children's Productions (2018–2022); BBC Studios Kids & Family (2022–present)
Original release
Network	BBC1 (1958–2012); CBBC (2012–present)
Release	16 October 1958 –; present
	Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Blue Peter is a British children's television entertainment programme created by John Hunter Blair. It is the longest-running children's TV show in the world,^[4] having been broadcast since October 1958.^[5] It was broadcast primarily from BBC Television Centre in London until September 2011, when the programme moved to dock10 studios at MediaCityUK in Salford, Greater Manchester. It is currently shown live on the CBBC television channel on Fridays at 5 pm. The show is also repeated on Saturdays at 11:30 am, Sundays at 9:00 am and a BSL version is shown on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm.

Following its original creation, the programme was developed by a BBC team led by Biddy Baxter; she became the programme editor in 1965, relinquishing the role in 1988. Throughout the show's history there have been forty-two official presenters; currently, it is hosted by Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook and Shini Muthukrishnan.

The show uses a nautical title and theme. Its content, which follows a magazine/entertainment format, features viewer and presenter challenges, competitions, celebrity interviews, popular culture, and sections on making arts and crafts items from household items. The show has had a garden in both London and Salford, known as the Blue Peter Garden, which is used during the summer and for outdoor activities. The programme has featured a number of pets including dogs, tortoises, cats, and parrots. The longevity of Blue Peter has established it as a significant part of British culture and British heritage.

^ "BBC's Blue Peter is filmed at dock10 studios, MediaCityUK". Dock10.co.uk. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
^ "BBC Studios to take on BBC Children's Productions". Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
^ "BBC Studios Kids & Family division opens for business".
^ Marson, Richard (2008). Blue Peter 50th Anniversary Book: The Story of Television's Longest-running Children's Programme. Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-61793-8.
^ Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 61–66. ISBN 1903111277.

[1] "BBC's Blue Peter is filmed at dock10 studios, MediaCityUK". Dock10.co.uk. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.

[2] "BBC Studios to take on BBC Children's Productions". Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.

[3] "BBC Studios Kids & Family division opens for business".

[Marson-4] Marson, Richard (2008). Blue Peter 50th Anniversary Book: The Story of Television's Longest-running Children's Programme. Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-61793-8.

[5] Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 61–66. ISBN 1903111277.

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