logo
Biddy Baxter dead: Blue Peter legend dies aged 92 as tributes pour in to ‘formidable' BBC editor

Biddy Baxter dead: Blue Peter legend dies aged 92 as tributes pour in to ‘formidable' BBC editor

The Irish Sun4 hours ago
LEGEND LOST Biddy Baxter dead: Blue Peter legend dies aged 92 as tributes pour in to 'formidable' BBC editor
BLUE Peter legend Biddy Baxter has died aged 92.
The star, who was behind the iconic BBC children's show, died on August 10.
Advertisement
3
Biddy Baxter in 1968
Credit: Getty
3
Biddy Baxter and Edward Barnes attend the 'Blue Peter Big Birthday' celebration at BBC Philharmonic Studio in 2018
Credit: Getty
3
The former Blue Peter Editor has passed away
Credit: Rex Features
The tragic news was confirmed on Facebook by Ten Acre Films who published her biography last year.
A statement read: "We are sad to report that longtime Blue Peter Editor Biddy Baxter has died at the age of 92.
"We salute a true pioneer, who navigated changing times in the television industry with instinct, tenacity and style," they wrote.
No cause of death has been given.
Advertisement
Biddy first joined the BBC as a studio manager in 1955 before later joining Blue Peter in November 1962.
Amongst her many accolades she was awarded an MBE in the 1981 New Year Honours list.
In November 2013, she was the recipient of the Special Award at the BAFTA Children's Awards.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pioneering Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter dies aged 92
Pioneering Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter dies aged 92

RTÉ News​

time3 minutes ago

  • RTÉ News​

Pioneering Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter dies aged 92

The BBC has announced that pioneering Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter has died at the age of 92. As editor of the popular children's programme between 1965 and 1988, she introduced viewer engagement segments including UK-wide appeals and the famous Blue Peter badge, encouraging children to send letters, pictures and programme ideas. Former presenter on the show Peter Duncan remembered her as "a true force of nature". He told BBC Breakfast: "For me, she was a wonderful, inspiring person, and not just for her presenters, but for what she got onto BBC television, and the kind of things she projected about young people. "She was a true enthusiast and a supporter of young people." He added: "She was truly a one-off within the BBC. I think that if something upset her, she would trail off to see the DG (director-general) and tell him what she thought, really. So we need people like that now more than ever." Born Joan Maureen Baxter in Leicester to Bryan Reginald Baxter and Dorothy Vera (nee Briers), she studied at St Mary's College, Durham University, where she first encountered recruitment flyers for the BBC. She joined the British public broadcaster as a radio studio manager in 1955, and was promoted to producing Schools Junior English programmes and Listen With Mother, before making the transition to television. Baxter took over as editor of Blue Peter in 1965, several years after the programme's launch. She was seen as a formidable figure and some have criticised her conduct, including former presenter Yvette Fielding, who claimed she was bullied on the show and said Baxter had been "incredibly cruel". Baxter served as editor for more than two decades, winning two Bafta awards and receiving 12 nominations. Upon her departure from the show in 1988, she was awarded the programme's highest honour, a gold Blue Peter Badge. "I didn't want to do anything other than Blue Peter," she told The Guardian in 2013. "I certainly never wanted to be an administrator or in charge of anything. "It was an absolute dream and I never wanted to do anything else. "It was a terrific time to be in television." She continued to act as a consultant to BBC director-generals Lord Birt and Michael Checkland after her departure, and received the special award at the Bafta Children's Awards in 2013. Baxter was made an MBE in 1981 and founded a trust to enable gifted music scholars to pursue postgraduate studies in 2003.

CMAT 'didn't sleep' and felt ill before Glastonbury set on the main stage
CMAT 'didn't sleep' and felt ill before Glastonbury set on the main stage

RTÉ News​

time3 minutes ago

  • RTÉ News​

CMAT 'didn't sleep' and felt ill before Glastonbury set on the main stage

Irish singer CMAT has said she "didn't sleep" and felt "ill" in the days leading up to her performance on the main stage at Glastonbury Festival. The musician, real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, 29, played songs from her back catalogue, as well as singles from her forthcoming third studio album Euro-Country, when she took to the Pyramid Stage in June. She told BBC Radio 6 Music: "It's worth noting that the two days beforehand, I was acting like someone who was about to go into war. "I was shaking with the fear. I couldn't talk to anyone, I didn't sleep, like I was ill. "I was so, so scared. I was so scared for the Pyramid Stage. "I kind of just kept throwing my head in my hands, and like screaming and being like, 'Why did they let me do this?' "And then by the time I walked on stage, the feeling, the first thought that occurred to me was, 'Oh my God, I'm so relieved that this is about to be over, because I don't have to be scared of it anymore'. "And then, actually, weirdly, because I had had that thought, I was like, 'Oh, I can just enjoy myself, because it's about to be over and not in front of me anymore'." She added: "Because of that, I actually did enjoy myself, and we were really well rehearsed. And it just felt amazing. It was amazing. "It was a weird thing walking out, though, because someone was like, 'Oh, you should get about 20,000 people at that time'… and I walked out, and I've seen 20,000 people before, and I was like, I don't know, I don't know what this is. I've never seen this wall (of people). They just kept going." CMAT said that she had 10 minutes to herself after the performance before she filmed an episode of CBeebies Bedtime Stories. She said: "When I stepped off the stage, I was a bit shocked, and I was a bit winded, because the weight of everything came down on me as I was stepping down, and I literally curled up in a ball behind the sofa in my dressing room and made my sister close the door and was like, 'No one can look at me for five to 10 minutes.' "And I just literally curled up in a ball and I didn't talk to anyone for like 10 minutes." Towards the end of her set on the Pyramid Stage, CMAT waded into the crowd to sing her popular song Stay For Something and chanted "Free Palestine" in reference to sustained Israeli strikes in Gaza. CMAT released her debut album, If My Wife New I'd Be Dead, in 2022, and followed it up with Mercury Prize-nominated Crazymad, For Me in 2023. In July, the BBC denied editing out Irish language that features as part of the pop singer's new single, Euro-Country, when it was played on BBC Radio 1 for the first time. Her third studio album is set for release on 29 August.

Liam Payne's ex Sophia Smith ties the knot as she shares stunning snaps from London wedding
Liam Payne's ex Sophia Smith ties the knot as she shares stunning snaps from London wedding

The Irish Sun

time34 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

Liam Payne's ex Sophia Smith ties the knot as she shares stunning snaps from London wedding

LIAM Payne's ex-girlriend Sophia Smith has tied the knot in a stunning ceremony in London this weekend. Sophia, who dated the One Direction star from 2013 to 2015, shared pictures of her special day on Instagram. 6 Sophia and James tied the knot in London today Credit: instagram/@sophiaxsmith 6 Sophia dated Liam for two years after meeting at school together Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 The happy couple were showered with confetti as they left the registry office Credit: instagram/@sophiaxsmith She announced her engagement to longtime love, James Bridgwood, last year after a Christmas Day proposal. Together, the couple have a daughter, Angelina, who was born in April 2023 – and in one of the pictures the little one was seen wearing a T-shirt declaring: "Mummy and Daddy just got married!" They celebrated the event at the Hotel Café Royal in Westminster. For the big day, Sophia wore a stunning simple and elegant white halterneck dress, with her hair pulled back into a bun which was graced with a veil. James looked dapper in a sharp classic black and white suit, with the guests also adhering to a black-and-white colour scheme. Sharing official photos from the event, One Direction family members were quick to share their congratulations. Harry Styles' sister Gemma wrote: "STUNNING congratulations xxx" with Louis Tomlinson's sister Lottie adding: "So beautiful congratulations ❤️❤️❤️" Hairstylist Lou Teasdale, who worked closely with the band during their time together, added a string of love hearts. Holly Ramsay also shared her love for the pair, writing: "Stunning !! Congratulations to you both 🤍" Sophia, a lifestyle influencer, has remained in the good graces of One Direction fans after her split from Liam in 2015. First look at Liam Payne in final TV show as Building The Band trailer is released The pair had been childhood friends, growing up in Wolverhampton together, before they started dating in 2013. Once his career took off with One Direction, she was a source of support for him as he handled the fame that came with the group. When they broke up, Liam said: "In order to do right by somebody, sometimes it's better not to do what your heart wants, but to do what's better for them." After their split, Liam would go on to date Cheryl, and welcome a son called Bear. Following Bear's birth, Sophie reached out to Liam to share her congratulations. Tragically, Liam died in 2023 at the age of 31 following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. 6 James and Sophia already have a daughter together Credit: Facebook/@sophiaxsmith 6 Liam and Sophia went their separate ways in 2015 Credit: Getty - Contributor

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store