BBC hits back at claims that recent Blue Peter episode brought in ZERO viewers

Not a single person tuned in to watch a recent episode of Blue Peter on a digital TV channel, it was reported earlier.

On a repeat show that aired on Tuesday June 13 it was claimed that the iconic children’s programme got a dreaded ‘zero’ rating on the official system used to measure TV audiences.

However the BBC has denied this and Tweeted that in fact, the episode was seen by 252,000 people across multiple channels.

So there!

Despite the BBC assuring us that Blue Peter is still very much alive and kicking, its figures have dwindled dramatically over the past 10 years.

In its peak Blue Peter brought in eight million viewers per show and was loved for its wholesome fun, arts and crafts and adorable pets.

Stars such as Anthea Turner, Tim Vincent, Gethin Jones and John Leslie all cut their presenting teeth on the show and every school child’s dream (or it should have been!) was to own a Blue Peter badge.

The iconic blue and white ship badge was awarded to viewers who appeared on the show or in recognition of achievement and were almost always worn by the presenters.

It is thought that Blue Peter’s decline in popularity is down to it being sidelined to the digital channel CBBC. In its heydey it was shown three times a week on BBC1…now an episode airs just once a week.

A repeat of the latest show aired at 2.30pm on Tuesday June 13 got a dreaded ‘zero’ rating on the official system used to measure TV audiences.

The original episode, that aired on June 8, pulled in 53,100 viewers, according to reports but that is still a pitiful number compared to 10 years ago.

The BBC insisted yesterday that Blue Peter remains a ‘national institution’ and that it is impossible to compare historic viewing figures with modern ones.

BLUE PETER PRESENTERS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

CBBC controller Cheryl Taylor said: ‘I challenge any naysayers to check out last week’s enthralling episode on iPlayer if they have any doubts at all about its value and enduring appeal to the curious and clued-up CBBC audience.’

It first aired in 1958 and is the longest-running children’s TV show in the world.

The current presenters are Barney Harwood, Radzi Chinyanganya and Lindsey Russell. The show is produced mainly in a television studio, but there is also a garden, often referred to as the Blue Peter Garden, used during the summer months or for outdoor activities. T

The programme has always featured a number of pets; currently a tortoise called Shelly makes appearances from time to time.

Keep it on the airwaves we say…and here’s one we made earlier!

What do you think? Blue Peter nay or yay?

Let us know on our Twitter or Instagram