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Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Blue Peter star died penniless driving taxis after decades on TV
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. 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. 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.
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC Blue Peter icon died penniless after dismissal from show for 'being difficult'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Blue Peter legend sadly passed away penniless after a nine-year stint on the renowned BBC children's show. Christopher Trace embarked on his presenting journey at the tender age of 25 in 1958, and was the one to kick off the inaugural episode alongside co-host Leila Williams. His television career flourished as he secured a regular presenting gig on the BBC Schools programme Signpost in 1961, a role he held for four years. Before his Blue Peter tenure, Trace even dabbled in acting, featuring in films such as The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1959 and Urge to Kill in 1960. He also served as Charlton Heston's body double in the 1959 cinematic masterpiece Ben-Hur. Regrettably, things took a turn for the worse for the gifted star. By 1967, Blue Peter chiefs were reportedly eager to replace Christopher on the show, citing his challenging behaviour on set, according to the Express. His personal life also spiralled when his wife Margaret Cattrall sought divorce following Trace's infidelity with a 19 year old during a Blue Peter excursion to Norway, reports the Daily Record. Christopher and his wife Meg were parents to two children, Jonathan and Jessica. Trace bid farewell to Blue Peter in 1967 and gambled on a fresh business venture as a writer and production manager at a feature film company. Unfortunately, the job didn't pan out, resulting in the loss of his life savings. Trace was declared bankrupt in 1973, just two years after tying the knot with Prudence Da. He found himself pulling pints in a Norwich pub and driving taxis to make ends meet. Eventually, he managed to revive his television career by working on BBC's Nationwide, presenting regional programmes in East Anglia and hosting the breakfast radio show on BBC Norwich. A source from that time recalled: "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." However, by the mid-1970s, Trace largely stepped back from his media career and dabbled in various odd jobs. One of these roles included a general manager position at an engineering factory. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community hereand get the latest news sent straight to your messages. While working there, he lost two toes in an industrial accident and stopped coming into work. Sadly, Trace passed away on 5 September 1992 at the age of 59 from oesophageal cancer, after battling the disease for the last five years of his life. At the time of his death, he was residing in Walthamstow and was dependent on benefits. In his final days, Trace was visited in hospital by fellow presenters Valerie Singleton and Biddy Baxter.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Blue Peter icon died a penniless taxi driver after spending decades on TV
A Blue Peter legend died without a penny to his name despite being one of the longest serving stars on the popular children's programme. A Blue Peter icon passed away without a penny to his name after nine years on the famous BBC children's programme. Christopher Trace started out his presenting career at 25-years-old in 1958 and was the man to launch the very first episode alongside his co-host Leila Williams. From there, his TV career went from strength to strength as he landed a regular presenting role on BBC Schools programme Signpost in 1961 and kept his job there for four years. Prior to his Blue Peter stint, Trace even had an acting career, starring in titles such as 1959 film The Hound of the Baskervilles and 1960's Urge to Kill. He also acted as Charlton Heston's body double in the 1959 film epic Ben-Hur. However, sadly things didn't work out well for the talented star in the end. By 1967, Blue Peter bosses were said to be desperate to replace Christopher on the show after saying he was difficult to deal with on set, the Express reports. Things went from bad to worse for him when his wife Margaret Cattrall filed for divorce after Trace cheated on her with a 19-year-old during a Blue Peter trip to Norway. Christopher and his wife Meg shared two children together, Jonathan and Jessica. Trace made his Blue Peter exit in 1967 and took a risk on a new business venture as a writer and production manager at a feature film company but the job failed and ended up costing him his life savings. Trace was declared bankrupt in 1973, two years after marrying Prudence Da and ended up pulling pints behind a bar in Norwich and working as a taxi driver instead to make ends meet. He eventually managed to get his TV career back on track by working for BBC's Nationwide, presenting regional programmes in East Anglia and the breakfast radio show on BBC Norwich. One insider said at the time: '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.' However, in the mid 1970s he largely retired from his media career and instead tried his hand at a number of odd jobs. Among these roles was a general manager position at an engineering factory. While working there he lost two toes in an industrial accident and stopped coming into work. He sadly died on September 5 1992 at 59-years-old from oesophageal cancer after battling the disease for the final five years of his life. At the time of his passing, he was living in Walthamstow and was relying on benefits. Trace was visited by fellow presenters Valerie Singleton and Biddy Baxter in hospital in his final days.
