Blue Peter named best kids show of all time

Blue Peter was unveiled as the greatest children’s show after a polling of experts.

Radio Times took the top five choices from some 30 pros in television to compile a list of the best 50 programmes ever made.

Its editor Mark Frith said: ‘British TV produces the best programmes for children in the world. Reading our list produces the most wonderful, warm memories.’

This year sees the iconic series turn 60, on 16 October, so seems fitting that it came out on top. It beat off competition from runner-up Grange Hill, third place Newsround, fourth’s Tiswas, and fifth’s Multi-Coloured Swap Shop. Its top five spots were taken up by shows largely popular in the 1980s and 1990s.

During its heyday, Blue Peter attracted around eight million viewers per episode and received over 1,000 letters a day. The sought-after Blue Peter badge was awarded to anyone who’d been on the programme or done something of note. It allowed those in possession to enter a number of parks and attractions throughout Britain for free, and was something of a holy grail of TV memorabilia.

Other top 20 entries included How, SM:TV Live, Pingu, Byker Grove, and Jackanory.

Providing you’re over the age of 30, you’ll no doubt recall Blue Peter’s popular charity appeals, annual Christmas decorations tutorials, and the amazing feat of making a functioning Tracey Island (from Thunderbirds) out of toilet roll and glue.

In fact, 16 out of the top 20 shows were either from or peaked in the 1980s, which reflects the ages of the pollsters and omits modern greats like Bob the Builder and Peppa Pig.

However, the poll feels somewhat narrow, seeing as former presenters Konnie Huq, Peter Purves, and Ayo Akinwolere, as well as previous editors Biddy Baxter and Richard Marson make up five for the 30 polled participants.

Usually, a poll to determine the greatest TV show would ask for thousands of votes from the public – after all, they’re the ones who watch the shows and make them what they are, which may have seen different outcome.

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