The iconic children's programme Blue Peter has been dealt a significant blow with the departure of one of its star presenters, Joel Mawhinney. The Mail on Sunday has exclusively revealed that Mawhinney, who boasts an impressive 16.5 million followers on TikTok, has informed BBC bosses of his decision to quit after four years on the show.
Presenter Exodus Fears for Blue Peter
This development follows last year's controversial move by the BBC to scrap Blue Peter's live shows in favour of a pre-recorded format, which was met with considerable criticism from viewers and industry insiders alike. Now, the programme faces further instability as fears mount that Mawhinney's girlfriend and co-presenter, Shini Muthukrishnan, aged 24, might follow him out the door.
Inside the Departure Decision
An insider close to the production told The Mail on Sunday: 'Joel has done his time on Blue Peter and felt the time was right to explore other opportunities.' The source added that BBC bosses were 'gutted' by his decision but understood his reasons for wanting to leave. 'They are now just hoping that they can hang onto Shini. Joel and Shini are such a great partnership both on and off screen.'
Mawhinney, who will film his final episodes in the coming months, joined Blue Peter in 2022 as the show's 41st presenter, following in the footsteps of legendary hosts like Valerie Singleton and John Noakes. The Bangor-born presenter has become a familiar face to millions of young viewers, participating in numerous challenging segments for the programme.
Royal Encounters and Physical Challenges
During his tenure, Mawhinney met King Charles and Queen Camilla in Liverpool in April 2023 ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest and Coronation celebrations. He also undertook several gruelling physical challenges for the children's show, including scaling a wire 500 feet above a Cumbrian slate mine and completing a demanding Royal Marines endurance course.
Beyond his presenting duties, Mawhinney is an accomplished magician who became the youngest ever member of the Irish Magic Circle. He also reached the final stages of selection for last year's Strictly Come Dancing, though BBC executives ultimately decided not to include him in the final lineup.
Personal Partnership and Social Media Presence
The Mail on Sunday previously revealed how Mawhinney and Muthukrishnan fell in love while working together on the CBBC show. The couple frequently share pictures of their life together on social media, celebrating their first anniversary in August with Mawhinney posting a heartfelt tribute: 'One year down, forever to go.' They recently enjoyed a romantic holiday in New York over the Christmas and New Year period.
Future of the Programme
The insider added: 'Joel has the world at his feet. This year is going to be huge for him.' A Blue Peter spokesman confirmed that Muthukrishnan would continue to present the show alongside Abby Cook and the programme's dog Hacker, but acknowledged that a search had already begun to replace Mawhinney.
This presenter shake-up comes at a challenging time for Blue Peter, which has faced format changes and now potential talent departures that could significantly impact the programme's future direction and appeal to its young audience.
