Blue Peter legend caught sunbathing topless in awkward nude blunder
Broadcasting star Valerie Singleton hosted iconic TV programme Blue Peter for a decade back in the 1960s before going on to present The Money Programme and BBC Radio 4 show PM
A Blue Peter legend was caught sunbathing topless by hot air balloon passengers, the TV star revealed. Valerie Singleton is best known for her time presenting the children's TV programme but has now opened up about her funny moment years on.
Valerie has revealed her anecdote about how she was caught sunbathing topless by passengers of a hot air balloon. She explained that she was left embarrassed when she was simply relaxing on her balcony at home - and spotted a hot air balloon full of people nearby. Forgetting she had no clothes on, Valerie stood up to wave at those travelling in the hot air balloon. However, seconds later she realised that she was topless for all to see and ran to grab a towel to cover her modesty.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, she explained that she used to put plants around her so she could sunbathe naked at her home near Sherborne, Dorset without being spotted by any of her neighbours. Valerie told listeners of the radio show: "I was sitting on my balcony and I had window boxes all around so I could sunbathe topless without all my neighbours seeing me.
"Then suddenly, quite a long way off, I saw a hot air balloon. Quite without thinking I stood up and waved to it and then the hot air balloon turned to me and dipped its basket to me. I was a bit too late to reach a towel. They must have had binoculars because they were quite a long way off."
88-year-old Valerie is best known for hosting Blue Peter between 1962 to 1972 before going onto to present The Money Programme and BBC Radio 4 show PM. She never got married but was involved in a relationship with Albert Finney and has an affair with Blue Peter co-star Peter Purves while he was married.
Valerie revealed almost 20 years ago that they had slept together, saying: "It was one of those impulsive, enjoyable experiences - but more a friendship thing than anything else. Sleeping with people you work with is generally not advisable, so we didn't want to pursue it. There was always an unspoken acknowledgement that something rather nice had happened."
While Peter recently opened up to The Telegraph about the drunken fling saying: "I am not being shy, but I feel it is disrespectful to go into this. I loved the 60s, the world seemed to be a much freer place. It was a time of great music, peace, and fantastic clothes which went on into the 70s and 80s – and I had a great time. I would only apologise if I ever offended anyone, but I hope I didn't."
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