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CybertraxUK
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Former Blue Peter host says move away from BBC1 would be ‘great shame’
A FORMER presenter of the long-running children’s television programme Blue Peter has said it would be “a great shame” if the show was moved from its BBC1 home after more than 50 years. But Peter Purves said the move – which is reportedly being considered by BBC bosses – was a sign of the times which had seen the importance and popularity of the show diminish. It is believed the show could be moved to digital station CBBC under plans to increase efficiency at the BBC.
Mr Purves, 72, who lives near Halesworth, presented the show between 1967 and 1978 at the height of its popularity when it drew millions of viewers. He said: “It is a flagship programme and it would be a great shame to see it moved. “But it’s probably to do with its audience. With the proliferation of channels, I don’t think it’s as accessible as it used to be. The importance to children has gone. “Its audience has dropped extraordinarily, as it has done for most mainstream programmes, as there is so much opportunity to look elsewhere. “I don’t watch daytime TV at all but I do think Helen Skelton (current Blue Peter host) is one of the best presenters on television.”
Mr Purves said he believed children had “a more rounded view of the world” when there were only three channels on television. “There is too much choice nowadays, and most of it is rubbish. Children can watch cartoons or MTV all day long, and I think that’s tragic, really dreadful. “There is still good television about. It is just so much harder to find. “But who’s to say what people should watch? Things change, and one has to put up with it.”
Television industry magazine Broadcast reported the idea was raised to end the “children’s block” of afternoon shows for younger viewers on BBC1 and instead show them exclusively on digital channels CBBC and Cbeebies. It is believed to be one of a number of radical ideas which have been floated to reorganise viewing in a bid to make efficiency savings under the Delivering Quality First initiative.
Blue Peter is the longest-running children’s programme in the world, having first aired in 1958. It is currently broadcast twice a week at 4.30pm and presented by Andy Akinwolere, Helen Skelton and Barney Harwood. Its number of editions was cut from three to two in 2007 and CBBC already airs repeats and spin-off shows. A BBC spokeswoman said: “It is important to stress that this is only one of many DQF proposals and that there are no immediate plans to remove children’s content from the BBC’s terrestrial channels.”
http://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/former_blue_peter_host_says_move_away_from_bbc1_would_be_great_shame_1_850930
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snowdrop
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that would be great shame bbc is blue peter visa versa.sales of sticky back plastic go down and tracy irland i did with my son,it ended up walking into dustbin itself.. bp done and still do great things.lots of kids will miss it,things are doing full circle parents are going back to roots of parenting and bp very much part of that thinking,sit with kids do stuff together,great stuff
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Trigger
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I can’t see what all the fuss is about - or why Purves has been dragged out of retirement to comment. From what I’ve read - Blue Peter could be moved from one channel to another - possibly CBBC which is a dedicated BBC channel for children’s programmes.
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Trigger
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Snowdrop: my earlier post was in response to the article, and was in no way commenting on your post.
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funkychick
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I think moving it to ceebies is a good idea
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snowdrop
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ok....i did not know puves lived nearby.i do believe it is already repeated on cbbc i am subjected to it every so often.john noakes and vallery were ones i think i came home from school to watch...all power to that elephant who poop and to studio catching fire all things that went wrong when live.that made bp tops for me then son with sitting doing tracy island.i got hump when princess ann got her badge i did't.
they do and did great things for charity without asking for money i thought very good
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CybertraxUK
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Television industry magazine Broadcast reported the idea was raised to end the “children’s block” of afternoon shows for younger viewers on BBC1 and instead show them exclusively on digital channels CBBC and Cbeebies
I actually think this would be a bad move, one that is short-sighted. Blue Peter has always appealed to those of all ages, and has had a wide audience target. To relegate it to a specilised children's TV channel is to dismiss part of that target audience, and limit the future. I see this as possibly a deliberate move to undermine viewing figures and therefore help speed its eventual demise, with a good excuse being the drop in appeal. I am sure that if it stays on BBC 1 the appeal for the programme would continue on and on to the next generation. It is, in my view, one of those programmes that lives on, and is timeless.
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funkychick
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Parents are allowed to watch Ceebies
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CybertraxUK
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Do you know anyone over 16 who watches it on their own, by their choice, without any younger children present?! I dont. My sister watches CBBC and CBeebies, but then again, she does have two kids under 3.
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JustStu
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Surely if people know about Blue Peter, and want to watch it, they'll switch over to whatever channel it's on?
Or will kids refuse to watch it because it's not on BBC1? I doubt it somehow.
Does anyone really decide what programmes they'll watch based on whether they're on they right channels?
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I told my girlfriend I had a job in a bowling alley. She said 'Tenpin?' I said, 'No, permanent.'
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Trigger
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Totally agree - as long as the programme is still on - and not axed - does it matter which channel it is?
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funkychick
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Do you know anyone over 16 who watches it on their own, by their choice, without any younger children present?! I dont. My sister watches CBBC and CBeebies, but then again, she does have two kids under 3.
Of course I dont watch Ceebies unless the kids have it on but what I am saying is if you are an adult and a fan of Blue Peter you will follow it whatever channel its on
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