Blue Peter has recorded its final live episode, moving to a pre-recorded format, the BBC has confirmed. The longest-running children's show in the world, which first aired in 1958, will continue to be broadcast on CBBC, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, but live episodes are being axed due to changing viewing habits.
Former presenters have expressed their dismay at the decision. Simon Thomas, who presented the show from 1999 to 2005, said on Instagram: 'We probably didn't realise it at the time, but we were working in the last years of the golden age of children's TV... Everything has fragmented now and the way children consume entertainment has changed forever.'
Richard Bacon, who was sacked from Blue Peter in the 1990s but later returned for the 60th anniversary, wrote on X: 'Being live is what made it alive... It was just a big, well-made, lovingly made, really well-resourced live kids TV show.'
A BBC spokesperson said: 'Blue Peter won't just be available to view online and will remain on the CBBC and BBC Two linear channels... The programme has been a mix of live and pre-recorded shows for decades and has transitioned to a pre-record model as viewing habits change.' The spokesperson added that the changes are necessary to 'future-proof the show and sustain its legacy for years to come'.
Fans have also criticised the move, with many taking to social media to lament the end of an era. The show, known for its intrepid presenters and characterful pets, has been a staple of British children's television for over six decades.
