Blue Peter star died penniless driving taxis after decades on TV

Daily Mirror

24-06-2025

Blue Peter star Christopher Trace had a successful career in the TV industry before things took a turn for the worse, and he was declared bankrupt and lost his life savings
A Blue Peter icon died penniless after a nine-year stint on the BBC children's show. Christopher Trace kick-started his presenting career at 25 in 1958 and was the one to introduce the inaugural episode alongside co-host Leila Williams.
His career trajectory soared from there. He secured a regular presenting gig on the BBC Schools programme Signpost in 1961, holding the role for four years. Prior to his presenting days, he had an acting career, featuring in films like the 1959 release The Hound of the Baskervilles and 1960's Urge to Kill.
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Regrettably, things took a turn for the worse for the star. By 1967, Blue Peter chiefs were keen to replace him on the show, labelling him as challenging to work with on-set.
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Matters worsened when his wife Margaret Cattrall sought a divorce following Trace's infidelity with a 19-year-old during a Blue Peter trip to Norway. Christopher and his wife Meg were parents to two children, Jonathan and Jessica, reports the Express.
Although he continued to work for BBC Radio and BBC Norwich for the subsequent six years, Trace exited Blue Peter in 1967 and gambled on a new business venture that ultimately drained his life savings.
He made a brief comeback to Blue Peter for its 20th anniversary in 1978, but largely withdrew from his media career and ended up serving pints in a Norwich pub and working as a taxi driver.
One source reminisced: "I remember him being strong on screen on BBC East. He was only there as his wife had kicked him out, he'd lost all his money and was drinking and eventually he went off to run a pub in Norwich."
In the twilight of his career, Trace turned his hand to a variety of odd jobs, including taking on the role of general manager at an engineering factory. It was here that he tragically lost two toes in an industrial accident and subsequently ceased going to work.
Having been declared bankrupt in 1973 - just two years following his marriage to Prudence Day - the television personality sadly passed away at the young age of 59 in 1992 due to oesophageal cancer.
At the time of his passing, he resided in Walthamstow and was visited by fellow presenters Valerie Singleton and Biddy Baxter in hospital during his final days.