Blue Peter's first dream team arrives...
Valerie Singleton
Cool, calm, collected and classy. More >
Peter Purves
Solid, dependable Pete, the presenter with flare(s). More >
John Noakes
Action man, adventurer and a dog's best friend. More >
By the time Val, Pete and John arrived on screen to say "hello!" in unison, Blue Peter had been going almost a decade.
Thanks to the sterling work by Biddy Baxter, much of the show's classic format had been established. The slightly staid tone that permeated much of the show's early years vanished with the departure of the avuncular Christopher Trace in 1967.
Trace made way for Peter Purves, whose instant bond with John Noakes created one of TV's most enduring double acts. With Peter and John on the show it was more like having a couple of naughty elder brothers in your living room. Luckily, Val was still on hand to keep the pair in order.
This was the era when 60,000 people turned up to watch the trio launch a steam train, the programme was given a royal seal of approval, and it seemed like a good idea to have a baby elephant on live TV.
