Blue Peter: First show from Salford Quays (opening)

[MrDannydoodah]

Also the new studio is a little bit pokey for my liking and everything seems to happen on a screen or ipad which feels a bit like an advert for apple to me. I'm showing my age now (28) but in my day Blue Peter was made in the biggest studio in the world (literally, I'm not just exaggerating) and they could have say a large fire engine in the studio or a lot of gym equipment for an olympic athlete or they could even install an ice rink or swimming pool or whatever they needed.

[MrDannydoodah]

@GlitteryGuinePig13 I totally agree that Barney and Helen are like brother and sister, that is one of Blue Peter's great strengths right now and is kind of the original idea for Blue Peter, the first two presenters Chris and Leila were meant to be like an older brother and sister for the viewers, showing them how to arrange train sets and make clothes for dolls and things like that.

[MrDannydoodah]

@GlitteryGuineaPig13 Apparently they are hoping to have a roof garden at media city eventually they just have to reinforce the roof and do an awful lot of planning and growing before it'll be ready, but it's a shame that Percy Thrower's orignal garden has been lost now after about 35 years of continous work to design and maintain it.

The makes have been mostly dropped as most kids these days have their own fones and mp3 players etc so they don't really want things made of yogurt pots lol

[MrDannydoodah]

BP actually had a five presenter team for a short time in 1997/8 after the arrival of Konnie, but following Romana's break in panto she decided to stay in theatre and only return for her farewell, later in 1998 Richard also left (initially unreplaced) to take things back to three, but I think everyone remembers what happened without me going into details there lol

Can't believe believe they've gone back to a two presenter format, not to mention no annual this year and no garden now.

[GlitteryGuineaPig13]

@MrDannydoodah Yeah there were also five when Liz returned after having her baby. She then left to have a girl, and also wanted to look after her baby full time.

I agree with you totally, and you've answered my question "is there a Blue Peter garden in Salford?".

I'm 11 and I miss all the awesome makes. Valerie Singleton would NEVER have let this happen.

However, the new studio is up-to-date, and Helen and Barney are like brothers and sisters. They cannot leave either!

[MrDannydoodah]

Blue Peter started with a two presenter format from 1958 to 1965, the male presenter (Chris) playing with the train set and making wood work projects whilst the female presenter (Leila, Anita, Val) played with dolls and baked and things. Although Biddy Baxter took over the show in 1962 at the time Val started so she wasn't exactly in the same mold as the other two women. Blue Peter then had three presenters from John Noakes' arrival in 1965 until a fourth was taken on (Katy Hill) in 1995.

[MaisieIsAwesome]

I like the beginning, but I was expecting a new presenter.

[97channel]

I'm not sure a two presenter format is right for Blue Peter. It has always been about being a team. The opening segment pits them against one another, which already goes against the ethos of the traditional format.

The theme music is quite good, but perhaps a bit too deviant from the recognisable BP tune on the whole.

The intro visuals are very dodgy. Not liking that at all.

The studio is underwhelming.

But all credit to them for trying to revive Blue Peter. It's hard to know what to do with it.

[97channel]

I'm not sure a two presenter format is right for Blue Peter. It has always been about being a team. The opening segment pits them against one another, which already goes against the ethos of the traditional format.

The theme music is quite good, but perhaps a bit too deviant from the recognisable BP tune on the whole.

The intro visuals are very dodgy. Not liking that at all.

The studio is underwhelming.

But all credit to them for trying to revive Blue Peter. It's hard to know what to do with it.