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Dear Blue Peter...: The Best of 50 Years of Letters to Britain's Favourite Children's Programme 1958-2008 (Hardcover)

by Biddy Baxter (Author)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Product details

Hardcover: 244 pages
Publisher: Short Books, London (4 Sep 2008)
Language English
ISBN-10: 190602149X
ISBN-13: 978-1906021498
Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 15.6 x 3.6 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 49,992 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Book Description

Dogs, badges, sticky-back plastic - even that mishap with the elephant - Blue Peter has been an integral part of British chidhoods for half a century, ever since that famous duo, Christopher Trace and Valerie Singleton, went on air.

As the programme celebrates its 50th anniversary, Biddy Baxter - the show's legendary editor and the woman who used the Blue Peter badge to encourage children to write in - reveals an extraordinary correspondence that, by the late 1980s, saw the presenters and production staff receiving an average of 7,000 letters a week.

Original, moving, often very funny, sometimes abusive, the letters in which children (and `big kids') offered their ideas, pictures and stories provide a unique snapshot of life in the 20th century - of people from all over Britain and beyond, and from every conceivable background.

Complete with archive photographs and Biddy Baxter's own commentary, this is a book for anyone who ever ran home to switch on the telly, who collected milk bottle tops, stamps and old cans for the Appeals and who coveted a Blue Peter badge of their own.

About the Author

Biddy Baxter was the editor of Blue Peter, from 1962 to 1988. She was awarded a gold badge herself when she stood down as editor from the programme.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt

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	85% buy the item featured on this page: Dear Blue Peter...: The Best of 50 Years of Letters to Britain's Favourite Children's Programme 1958-2008 4.8 out of 5 stars (5) �8.44
	8% buy "Blue Peter" 50th Anniversary Book: The Story of Television's Longest-running Children's Programme 5.0 out of 5 stars (5) �9.72
	2% buy "Blue Peter" Annual 2009
	2% buy The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition 4.3 out of 5 stars (141) �4.87

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Here's lots they made earlier!, 5 Oct 2008

By	S.M. Gidley (Sidmouth, Devon, UK) - See all my reviews

I bought this for my mother for her 63rd birthday and she hasn't stopped reading it. This compilation is a tiny fraction of the letters received by the world's longest running children's television programme (up to a staggering 1,000 EACH DAY at one point) and is by turns charming, hilarious and, sometimes, heart-breakingly moving.

Although there are some letters by parents and older viewers, it is the youngsters who dispense devastating honesty and irresisitible logic through this brilliant collection. You can also admire their shaky spelling and handwriting as the book produces some of the letters as is. Replies from legendary programme editor Biddy Baxter and the presenters are also included.

As well as the letters you can also enjoy lots of anecdotes about the show and there's also a foreword by Ewan McGregor.

I can't imagine anyone who had Blue Peter as part of their own (or their offspring's) childhood failing to be engaged by this lovely book. It almost makes you want to go off and make an advent crown!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here' s one I made earlier, 18 Nov 2008

By	Herbert E. C. Barnes "Edward Barnes" (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As someone who worked alongside Biddy Baxter on Blue Peter I can vouch for the authenticity of this book. It is an accurate reflection of the empathy between Biddy and the millions of children who loved the programme.

Their letters not only provided the raw material for 90% of the programme's content, but are an example of the feeling of belonging and ownership that children felt for Blue Peter.

I loved the facimilies of the letters produced in the book, which sometimes provoked a smile, at other times a belly laugh and occaisionly a tear.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Blue Peter, 13 Nov 2008

By	Mr. D. Foulkes - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a must read for anyone who has watched an episode of 'Blue Peter.'

`Dear Blue Peter' is a very amusing trip down memory lane and does an excellent job of opening up the world of this iconic series. There are some wonderful letters from both parents and children who watched the show - giving a brilliant insight into a child's perspective of the world. This is a perfect present/read for anyone who has ever been touched by this historic series.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!
-- A Great Read, Reccomended for any ages who can read (well) and loves the show!--
This was written by Biddy Baxter the longest serving (now ex) Blue Peter editor, and... Read more

Published 6 months ago by John Loydall

5.0 out of 5 stars Affectionate tribute to TV icon
I wonder if there has ever been a TV series for children anywhere in the world to match the success of the BBC's Blue Peter, which has now been going for more than half a century... Read more

Published 7 months ago by Peter Durward Harris

› See all 5 customer reviews...

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