Blue Peter and Talk:Ground Equipment Facility J-33: Difference between pages

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! style="background:#ddeeff;" | '''Blue Peter'''

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| [[Image:Blueship.JPG|150px|center|''The Blue Peter'' ship]]<br />''The second and best-known version of the ''Blue Peter'' logo, a stylised galleon based on an original design by Tony Hart''

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| '''Duration:''' 25 [[minute]]s. (CBBC One/Two)<br> '''Duration:''' 30 [[minute]]s. (CBBC Channel)

}} Add SFBAProject tag. [[User:ConradPino|Conrad T. Pino]] 07:08, 22 July 2007 (UTC)

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| '''Current presenters:''' [[Matt Baker]], [[Liz Barker]], [[Gethin Jones]], [[Konnie Huq]] and [[Zöe Salmon]].

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| '''2005 Charity Appeal:''' ''Treasure Trail'' in aid of [[ChildLine]]

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'''''Blue Peter''''' is a popular, long-running [[BBC]] [[television]] programme for children. It is named after the blue-and-white [[International maritime signal flags|flag]] hoisted by ships in port when they are ready to sail. The reasoning behind the choice of title is that the programme is intended to be a voyage of adventure and discovery for the viewers, constantly covering new topics.

==Multi-Function Station==

The signature tune, in recognition of the origin of the title, is a [[sea shanty]] called ''Barnacle Bill'', and the programme's motif is a stylised sailing ship, based on an original design by [[Tony Hart]].

MVAFS was a multi-function station: a [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment|SAGE]] long range radar site operated by the 666th Radar Squadron (host squadron)<ref name="ref_mil_museum">{{cite web

|url = http://www.militarymuseum.org/MillValleyAFS.html

|title = Mill Valley Air Force Station

|accessdate = 2007-07-18

|publisher = [[California State Military Museum]]

}}</ref>; an AN/FSS-7 [[SLBM]] detection radar site operated by Detachment 3 14th Missile Warning Squadron<ref name="ref_mil_museum" />; a [[Project Nike|Nike]] missile air defense control site (San Francisco Defense Area Site SF-90DC<ref name="ref_mil_museum" /><ref name="ref_missile_sites">{{cite web

|url = http://ed-thelen.org/loc-c.html#SF-90DC

|title = Locations of Former NIKE MISSILE SITES (text)

|accessdate = 2007-07-18

|publisher = Ed Thelen

}}</ref><ref>{{cite web

|url = http://www.nps.gov/goga/historyculture/cold-war.htm

|title = GGNRA - Cold War Era, 1952-1974

|accessdate = 2007-07-18

|publisher = [[National Park Service]]

}}</ref>) operated by the Army Air Defense Command Post for the 40th Artillery Brigade from 1959 until June 1971 and the 13th Air Defense Artillery Group from July 1971 to August 1974<ref name="ref_mil_museum" />; a [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) Joint Surveillance System (JSS) Facility J-33<ref name="ref_missile_sites" /><ref>{{cite web

|url = http://nas-architecture.faa.gov/nas/___location/location_data.cfm?fid=11342

|title = MILL VALLEY LRR SURVEILLANCE [QMV]

|accessdate = 2007-07-18

|publisher = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]

}}</ref>

. I served at MVAFS from 1972 to 1974 and personally witnessed these functions. More to follow later. [[User:ConradPino|Conrad T. Pino]] 08:42, 19 July 2007 (UTC)

==HistoryReferences==

{{reflist}}

The programme, devised by [[John Hunter Blair]] and edited for many years by [[Biddy Baxter]], was first shown on [[October 16]], [[1958]], the original presenters being [[Christopher Trace]] and [[Leila Williams]]. The format consisted mainly of the two presenters demonstrating how to make toys and useful household objects, with the male presenter concentrating on traditional "boys'" toys such as model aeroplanes, and the female restricting herself to domestic tasks, such as cookery.

Over the years the programme changed to reflect the times. Originally it was a 15-minute weekly programme; currently it is 25 minutes and is shown three times a week on [[BBC One]], with two more programmes (mainly comprising previously-broadcast material) each week on the [[CBBC Channel]]. The 4000th edition was broadcast on [[14 March]] [[2005]]. Most episodes are still broadcast live.

Almost every episode from [[1964]] onwards still exists in the BBC archives. This is extremely unusual for programmes of that era, and stands as testament to Baxter's foresight and initiative, as she personally ensured that [[telerecording]]s and, from [[1970]], [[videotape|video]] copies were kept of the episodes. Among the benefits of this policy is that one [[1973]] episode contains the only known broadcast quality footage of the lost final episode of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' serial ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'', which depicts [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|the Doctor]]'s first [[Doctor (Doctor Who)#Changing faces|regeneration]]. (''Blue Peter'' has had a longstanding relationship with ''Doctor Who'', often running features on the show with appearances by actors and behind-the-scenes personnel. One notable contest had viewers design a monster that would later be featured on ''Doctor Who''. In addition, longtime host [[Peter Purves]] was himself a former co-star on the series.)

The show has seen many redesigns during its long history, often accompanied by new arrangements of the programme's signature tune. Probably the most famous version was produced in [[1979]] by the British composer and instrumentalist [[Mike Oldfield]]. His was originally released as a [[Single (music)|7" single]] on [[November 30th]]. According to the cover of the single, "part of the proceeds of the sale" of that record were "donated to the Blue Peter [[Cambodia]] Appeal". The opening drum roll was performed by presenter [[Simon Groom]]. It was then used on the programme itself for several years. It is worth noting that the version of the theme available on single and numerous Mike Oldfield compilation albums is actually a re-recording (in stereo, as opposed to the mono TV mix) and does not contain the opening drum roll; the as-used-on-TV version of the Oldfield theme has never been commercially released.

[[image:blue.peter.ba.b757.london.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The specially painted "Blue Peter" [[British Airways]] [[Boeing 757]] landing at [[London Heathrow Airport]]]]

In [[1994]] the show featured the group [[Stomp]], who produced music using instruments fashioned from recyclables and other [[waste|household waste]]. The show's producers were so impressed with their work that they commissioned them to do a cover of the traditional ''Blue Peter'' theme music. Their rendition was aired until [[1999]] when the show got a "new millennium" makeover, which involved an updated variant of the logo (used alongside the old one) and another reworking of the signature tune. The 'new' logo lasted until 2004 when a simplified version of the traditional ship (without any rigging on the sails) was introduced, along with a new arrangement of "Barnacle Bill" by N Brown. In 2006 the theme music is to be re-arranged again, this time by [[Murray Gold]]. 40 viewers are to be selected through a competition to play alongside the [[BBC Philharmonic Orchestra]] on the new recording.

Many items from ''Blue Peter'''s history have passed into television legend, especially moments when things have gone wrong, such as the much-repeated clip of Lulu the elephant (from a [[1969]] edition) who defecated on the studio floor and then proceeded to attempt an exit, dragging her keeper along the ground behind her. Other well-remembered and much-repeated items include the [[Girl Guides]]' bonfire that got out of hand on the [[1970]] [[Christmas]] edition, John Noakes' report on the cleaning of [[Nelson's Column]], and Simon Groom referring to a previous item on door-knockers with the words "What a lovely pair of knockers", which has usually been explained as an accidental turn of phrase but which Groom later admitted was a deliberate joke. Additionally, Groom is remembered for inappropriately reciting, while wearing a suit of armour, "Once a king always a king, but once a (k)night is enough", while Peter Duncan's cookery instructions to "finely chop one raw egg" will also go into the annals.

There have also been times when the show has broadcast breaking news in the days before 24-hour news channels. Possibly the most famous is showing the first colour images on British TV of the sinking of the [[RMS Queen Elizabeth]] in 1972.

==Features==

''Blue Peter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s remit is very wide-ranging. Most programmes include a filmed report. There will also often be a demonstration of an activity in the studio, and/or a music or dance performance. The programme is made at [[BBC Television Centre]], and often comes from Studio 1, which is the largest TV studio in Europe. This enables ''Blue Peter'' to include large-scale demonstrations and performances within the live programme. The show is also famous for its "makes", which are demonstrations of how to construct a useful object or prepare food. These demonstrations have given rise to the phrase 'Here's one I made earlier!', as presenters bring out a perfect and completed version of the object they are making. Time is also often given over to reading letters and showing pictures sent in by viewers.

Enduring features of the programme include the annual charity appeal, which involves young viewers by asking them to collect items that can be recycled or sold to raise money for the chosen cause. The cause is always a charity project in the UK in odd-numbered years, and abroad in even-numbered. The appeal is usually launched in late November and runs through to February or March.

The [[Blue Peter Summer Expedition]] is another long-running tradition. The expeditions focus on a single country and are filmed during the summer while the programme is off the air.

The team of presenters keeps various pets. The original idea of this was to show viewers lucky enough to own animals how to care for them, and act as surrogate pets for children without them. The first pet was a dog named [[Petra (dog)|Petra]]; other famous pets have included Patch, [[Shep (Border Collie)|Shep]] the [[Border Collie]]. Tortoises including, Freda (originally misidentified as a male and called Fred), Maggie, Jim and [[George (tortoise)|George]]. Cats including Jason, Jack and Jill, Willow, Kari and Oke and the late Smudge. The programme has also had the golden retrievers Goldie and her daughter Bonnie. The current pets on the show are Meg, Lucy and Mabel, dogs; Socks the cat, Shelley the tortoise and the rarely seen, Blue Peter riding for the disabled horse, Jet who replaced Rags.

The presenters also maintain the famous Blue Peter Garden, adjacent to Television Centre, which was originally designed by [[Percy Thrower]]. Features of the garden include an Italian sunken garden including a pond, which contains [[goldfish]], a vegetable patch, greenhouse and viewing platform. The 2000 Blue Peter time capsule, which is due to be dug up in 2029, is buried in the garden. George the Tortoise was interred in the garden following his death in [[2004]], and the garden also features a bust of Petra, sculptures of Mabel and the Blue Peter ship, and a plaque in honour of Percy Thrower. In addition to featuring regularly on ''Blue Peter'' itself, the garden is available to other programmes for outside broadcasts. It is often used for the links between children's programmes during the summer months. In [[1984]] the garden was vandalised leading to an on air appeal for viewers to come forward with information that often appears on clip shows.

The programme has also often included cartoon a series as 'light relief' from some of the more informative articles. One such, which ran from [[1963]] to [[1977]] was [[Bleep and Booster]].

The programme also makes a point of marking annual events, including [[Chinese New Year]], [[Shrove Tuesday]], [[Mothering Sunday]], [[Guy Fawkes Night]] and [[Christmas]].

Children (and occasionally adults) who appear on the show or achieve something notable may be awarded the coveted [[Blue Peter badge]]. The presenters almost always wear a badge on the programme; the only exceptions are when they are wearing something that it is impractical to attach a badge to (for example, a life jacket), in which case a sticker with the ship emblem is normally used instead. In addition, magnetic stickers bearing the logo are often attached to vehicles driven by the presenters in filming assignments.

The show maintains its long-standing practice of avoiding using commercial names on air. Most famously, this policy led to the invention of the phrase "sticky-backed plastic" (marketed under the trade name [[Fablon]]) back in the 1970s. An extreme example occurred in February [[2005]], when the show ran a feature on how [[Smarties (Nestlé - Rowntree's)|Smarties]] are made, without once mentioning the name of the product.

It was during the 1960's and 1970's that editor [[Biddy Baxter]] with producers Edward Barnes and Rosemary Gill put in place many of these Blue Peter features, with most of them still featured on the programme to this very day.

==Tributes and honours==

In a list of the [[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]] drawn up by the [[British Film Institute]] in [[2000]], voted for by industry professionals, ''Blue Peter'' was placed 6th.

[[Asteroid]] [[16197 Bluepeter]] is named in its honour. The asteroid was discovered on [[7 January]] [[2000]], the day that the Blue Peter [[time capsule]]s from [[1971]] and [[1984]] were unearthed.

==Blue Peter presenters==

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! || Name !! Started !! Ended

|-

| 1. || [[Christopher Trace]] || [[16 October]] [[1958]] || [[24 July]] [[1967]]

|-

| 2. || [[Leila Williams]] || [[16 October]] [[1958]] || [[8 January]] [[1962]]

|-

| 3. || [[Anita West]] || [[7 May]] [[1962]] || [[3 September]] [[1962]]

|-

| 4. || [[Valerie Singleton]] || [[3 September]] [[1962]] || [[3 July]] [[1972]]

|-

| 5. || [[John Noakes]] || [[30 December]] [[1965]] || [[26 June]] [[1978]]

|-

| 6. || [[Peter Purves]] || [[16 November]] [[1967]] || [[23 March]] [[1978]]

|-

| 7. || [[Lesley Judd]] || [[5 May]] [[1972]] || [[12 April]] [[1979]]

|-

| 8. || [[Simon Groom]] || [[15 May]] [[1978]] || [[23 June]] [[1986]]

|-

| 9. || [[Christopher Wenner]] || [[14 September]] [[1978]] || [[23 June]] [[1980]]

|-

| 10. || [[Tina Heath]] || [[5 April]] [[1979]] || [[23 June]] [[1980]]

|-

| 11. || [[Sarah Greene]] || [[19 May]] [[1980]] || [[27 June]] [[1983]]

|-

| 12. || [[Peter Duncan (actor)|Peter Duncan]] || [[11 September]] [[1980]] <BR> [[9 September]] [[1985]] || [[18 June]] [[1984]] <BR> [[27 November]] [[1986]]

|-

| 13. || [[Janet Ellis]] || [[28 April]] [[1983]] || [[29 June]] [[1987]]

|-

| 14. || [[Michael Sundin]] || [[13 September]] [[1984]] || [[24 June]] [[1985]]

|-

| 15. || [[Mark Curry (television presenter)|Mark Curry]] || [[23 June]] [[1986]] || [[26 June]] [[1989]]

|-

| 16. || [[Caron Keating]] || [[13 November]] [[1986]] || [[22 January]] [[1990]]

|-

| 17. || [[Yvette Fielding]] || [[29 June]] [[1987]] || [[29 June]] [[1992]]

|-

| 18. || [[John Leslie (television presenter)|John Leslie]] || [[20 April]] [[1989]] || [[20 January]] [[1994]]

|-

| 19. || [[Diane-Louise Jordan]] || [[25 January]] [[1990]] || [[26 February]] [[1996]]

|-

| 20. || [[Anthea Turner]] || [[14 September]] [[1992]] || [[27 June]] [[1994]]

|-

| 21. || [[Tim Vincent]] || [[16 December]] [[1993]] || [[24 January]] [[1997]]

|-

| 22. || [[Stuart Miles]] || [[27 June]] [[1994]] || [[21 June]] [[1999]]

|-

| 23. || [[Katy Hill]] || [[23 June]] [[1995]] || [[19 June]] [[2000]]

|-

| 24. || [[Romana D'Annunzio]] || [[1 March]] [[1996]] || [[20 February]] [[1998]]

|-

| 25. || [[Richard Bacon (television presenter)|Richard Bacon]] || [[21 February]] [[1997]] || [[19 October]] [[1998]]

|-

| 26. || [[Konnie Huq]] || [[1 December]] [[1997]] || &nbsp;

|-

| 27. || [[Simon Thomas (television presenter)|Simon Thomas]] || [[8 January]] [[1999]] || [[25 April]] [[2005]]

|-

| 28. || [[Matt Baker]] || [[25 June]] [[1999]] || &nbsp;

|-

| 29. || [[Liz Barker]] || [[23 June]] [[2000]] || [[12 April]] [[2006]]

|-

| 30. || [[Zöe Salmon]] || [[23 December]] [[2004]] || &nbsp;

|-

| 31. || [[Gethin Jones]] || [[27 April]] [[2005]] || &nbsp;

|-

| 32. || [[Jimmy Snapester]] || [[28 March]] [[2006]] || &nbsp;

|}

[[Image:BluePeterPresenters.jpg|right|thumb|The current Blue Peter presenters: (from left to right): [[Matt Baker]], [[Konnie Huq]], [[Zöe Salmon]], [[Liz Barker]] and [[Gethin Jones]]]]

For many years, [[Anita West]] was not officially recognised as a Blue Peter presenter, having stood in for several months between Leila Williams leaving the show and a full-time replacement being found. West was finally added to the official list of presenters at the time of Blue Peter's 40th anniversary celebrations in [[1998]].

Of the total of 31 presenters who have fronted the programme during its lifetime, one or two have failed to live up to the "squeaky-clean" image required of them. The most famous scandal involving a presenter occurred in [[1998]], when [[Richard Bacon (television presenter)|Richard Bacon]] had his contract terminated after publicly confessing to having taken [[cocaine]]. The BBC's Head of Children's Programming at the time, [[Lorraine Heggessey]], addressed viewers on-air before the first edition of the programme following his sacking to explain to the audience why he had been asked to leave and to apologise for his actions.

The programme maintains friendly links with most of its former presenters, many of whom have made further appearances on the show after leaving, particularly in the show's Christmas specials.

Apart from the presenters, other people who have played important roles on the show include the zoologist [[George Cansdale]], who was the programme's first on-screen vet, and [[Percy Thrower]] who was the show's resident gardening expert from the 1960s until shortly before his death in 1988. He was followed by briefly by [[Chris Crowder]] and then [[Clare Bradley]] and she was replaced by the current Blue Peter gardener, [[Chris Collins (gardener)|Chris Collins]].

Another important contributor, though rarely seen on screen, was [[Margaret Parnell]], who created almost all of Blue Peter's "makes" from the early 1960s until her retirement in 2001. Her role is now filled by [[Gillian Shearing]], though Parnell's name still appears in the credits from time to time when a classic "make" is re-used.

==The Signature Tune==

The following is a list of all the musicians who have recorded a version of the Blue Peter signature tune:

*Ashworth/Hope October [[1958]] to January [[1979]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme1_hope.ram Blue Peter Theme Tune from 1958]

*[[Mike Oldfield]] January [[1979]] to June [[1989]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme2_oldfield.ram Blue Peter Theme from 1979]

*[[Simon Brint]] July [[1989]] to August [[1994]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme3_brint1.ram Blue Peter Theme from 1990] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme5_brint2.ram Blue Peter Theme from 1993]

*[[Stomp (dance troupe)|The Yes/No People]] September [[1994]] to August [[1999]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme6_yesno.ram Blue Peter Theme from 1996]

*[[David Arnold]] and the [[BBC Philharmonic Orchestra]] September [[1999]] to December [[2004]] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme7_arnold.ram Blue Peter Theme from 2002]

*[[Nial Brown]] January [[2005]] to present [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/musicmakers/bb/theme8_brown.ram Blue Peter Theme from 2005]

== External links ==

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bluepeter/ Blue Peter official site]

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/tv/bluepeter/ I Love Blue Peter]

* [http://tv.cream.org/lookin/bp/ Blue Peter Special Assignment From TV Cream]

* {{imdb title|id=0051257|title=Blue Peter}}

* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/B/htmlB/bluepeter/bluepeter.htm Encyclopedia of Television]

* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/462144/index.html British Film Institute Screen Online]

* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/464540/index.html Profile of Biddy Baxter]

[[Category:BBC children's television programmes]]

[[Category:Blue Peter]]