For decades, Blue Peter presenters have encouraged children to use toilet rolls and other household refuse to recreate the Thunderbirds’ Tracy Island and fantasy castles. Now the BBC has announced it will be making the show’s famous badges from recycled yoghurt pots.
The announcement is part of an effort to make the BBC children’s programme more green: the badges will be made in a solar-powered factory using materials that were made earlier – in this case, yoghurt pots.
Blue Peter, which marks its 60th anniversary next year, is among the world’s longest-running TV shows. Hundreds of thousands of children have received the badges since they were first launched in 1963, as a reward for sending in letters and drawings, or for entering competitions.
Today’s youngsters, who are more likely to enter competitions through the website, and email their observations rather than enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope, can collect six badges. Alongside the iconic blue badge, which is awarded for sending in an interesting letter or story, or for appearing on the programme, there is the silver badge for children who already have a blue badge and complete a further achievement, a green environmental badge, an orange badge for competition winners, a purple badge for children who have ideas to improve Blue Peter and, most exceptionally, the gold badge, which is given to children who have shown incredible bravery, or represented their country. It is also given to longstanding presenters who leave the show.
Last year, presenters Lindsey Russell and Radzi Chinyanganya announced that the green environment badge would be made from recycled components. Now the other badges are to follow suit.
Blue Peter’s editor, Ewan Vinnicombe, said: “Blue Peter has been showing young viewers how to make something magical out of everyday objects throughout its history. We are thrilled to be recognised as a leader in sustainable production and that we have been able to find a perfect way of sharing this with our viewers, whilst having a positive impact on the environment at the same time.”
The badges were at the centre of a minor national outcry in 2006, when it was discovered that they were being resold on eBay – potentially allowing those who had never so much as peeled a sheet of sticky-backed plastic to gain the free entry to museums and theme parks offered by the badges.
As of this month, Merlin Entertainments, which operates Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and other attractions, no longer accepts Blue Peter badges, the BBC confirmed.
