@BLUEPETER By Fiona Cummings

Today mars 60 years since the first broadcast of an institution, an icon of BBC programming, Blue Peter. Even if you don’t live in the UK, it’s probable that you have heard of this legendary programme which is forever linked with Guide Dogs as the programme has supported at least 1 puppy with numerous others making an appearance.

 

The notion of family entertainment and television in particular has changed so much since the inception of Blue Peter, but has the art of true children’s entertainment really changed?

 

Sadly, most if not all children’s programming has now moved to a specific channel in the UK and it’s mixed up with programming from the USA and beyond. While this gives families a broader experience, we may have lost some of the magic.

 

While reflecting on 60 years of Blue Peter this morning on a radio phone in, callers commented on new exciting programmes, most of which I have never heard of, including one about Doug the dog which seems to appeal on many different levels. It was lovely to hear dads in particular talking about how they sit down with their little angels to watch the latest BBC triumph and equally sad to hear programme makers bemoan the lack of quality offerings on commercial channels, due in part to a ban on junk food and other similar advertising which seem to make such programmes no longer commercially viable.

 

 A major change is that families don’t sit down to watch a programme at a given time, choosing to record or pick it up from the many media options now available to them.  Most argued this morning that this does not lead to a deterioration in how or what they watch and it’s encouraging to hear so many families making time to interact through quality children’s programming.

 

Will Blue Peter make 100 years of broadcasting?  I have no doubt it will, even if traditional television is long gone. Even if we watch everything on demand, we still want to watch quality and we still want to be entertained; Blue Peter does that and more and will continue to delight and enthrall for years to come.