Blue Peter - Presenters and Contributors

Presenters and Contributors

Christopher Trace and Leila Williams were the first presenters of Blue Peter in October 1958, and since then, there have been 33 other presenters. The current presenting team comprises Helen Skelton and Barney Harwood (who replaced Joel Defries in January 2011). Andy Akinwolere is the latest presenter to leave Blue Peter; and as of yet the producers have decided not to replace him. On September 26, 2011, the BBC website announced the programme's move to new studios in Salford and confirmed that only two presenters would front the show full-time, with guest presenters stepping in to cover topics in their field.

Other people who have played roles on the show include the zoologist George Cansdale, who was the programme's first on-screen veterinarian, and Percy Thrower who was the show's gardening expert from 21 March 1974 to 23 November 1987 and was presented with a Gold Blue Peter badge shortly before his death in 1988. He was followed from 1988–91 by Chris Crowder and from 1991–2000 by Clare Bradley. The current incumbent, Chris Collins took over in 2004.

Another contributor, though rarely seen on screen, was Margaret Parnell, who created almost all of the show's "makes" from 1963 until her retirement in 2001. Her role was then filled by Gillian Shearing, though Parnell's name still appeared in the credits from time to time when a classic "make" was re-used.

Director/producer Alex Leger who joined the show in 1975 as a production assistant finally retired in 2011, making him Blue Peter's longest serving staff member ever.