Latest news with #JoelMawhinney
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Blue Peter hosts Shini Muthukrishnan and Joel Mawhinney ‘secretly dating for a year' after ‘hitting it off instantly'
BLUE Peter presenters Shini Muthukrishnan and Joel Mawhinney have found love while co-hosting the beloved children's TV show. Shini, 22, and Joel, 25, have been working together on the BBC show since the former joined the cast in January last year. 3 Sources reported the pair are "practically living together" after immediately hitting it off. "Shini and Joel hit it off instantly and became great friends before anything romantic happened between them," an unnamed source told Daily Mail. "They keep their work and personal lives completely separate and are the consummate professionals on set. "They've been very discreet but a lot of people working on the show know about their off-screen relationship." The source said the pair was "totally gorgeous together" and could maybe "become the hot new couple on the celebrity circuit in the coming months." The Sun contacted BBC representatives by email on Sunday morning for comment. Shini was a huge TikTok star when she cast as a presenter on the world's longest-running children's TV show. She had just recently graduated from studying philosophy, politics and economics at King's College London, when she joined the existing Blue Peter team of Abby Cook, Joel, and Henry the Dog. Speaking of her excitement at landing the role, Shini said in 2024: 'Being part of the Blue Peter team is such a surreal and exciting feeling. It's my first time on the big screen and I can't wait for all the adventures to come!' 'I have really fond memories of Blue Peter, Helen [Skelton] and Barney [Harwood] were my era. As a kid, I looked up to Helen Skelton, she seemed fearless on screen. Iconic show Blue Peter in major shake-up after six decades "She took on incredible challenges with such a headstrong attitude that made me think I can be fearless too.' The Stafford-born star has been described as a perfect fit for the role by the BBC thanks to her love of reading, books, adventure and sport. Shini received her first Blue Peter badge with participation in a dazzling aircraft aerobatics challenge. But hasn't been all good news over at Blue Peter with BBC axing airing live episodes of the beloved show, leaving devastated staff reeling from the shock move. At its peak, the show, which has been a mix of live and pre-recorded shows in recent years, attracted 8 million views. A spokeswoman told The Sun: 'The programme will not be online only, but on CBBC, sign zone, BBC2 and iPlayer. It was for a long time, broadcast from MediaCityUK in Salford, and aired on digital TV channel CBBC on Fridays at 5 p.m. But BBC bosses assured fans that it was not a death knell for Blue Peter, as pre-recorded shows will continue to air on CBBC, Sign Zone, BBC2 and iPlayer. Blue Peter's biggest stars With over 5,000 episodes produced, Blue Peter has been on air since 1958 and has seen a raft of famous faces at the helm Christoper Trace - 1958 to 1967 Valerie Singleton - 1962 to 1972 John Noakes - 1965 to 1978 Peter Purves - 1967 to 1978 Simon Groom - 1978 to 1986 Janet Ellis - 1983 to 1987 Peter Duncan - 1985 to 1986 Yvette Fielding - 1987 to 1992 John Leslie - 1989 to 1994 Konnie Huq - 1987 to 2008 Matt Baker - 1999 to 2006 Gethin Jones - 2005 to 2008 Helen Skelton - 2008 to 2013 Barney Hardwood - 2011 to 2017 Lindsey Russell - 2013 to 2021 Radzi Chinyanganya - 2013 to 2019
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Blue Peter pair Shini Muthukrishnan and Joel Mawhinney have been secretly dating for a year and are ‘practically living together'
Over the years, there have been regular rumours of friendships blossoming into romance between Blue Peter presenters. And now it can be revealed that cupid has struck again – as two of its current hosts have been secretly dating for a year. Shini Muthukrishnan, 22, and Joel Mawhinney, 25, are said to have fallen for each other almost immediately after she joined the show in January last year and they are 'practically living together'. Sources say they have tried to keep their romance under wraps but their secret has recently been discovered by some of their colleagues. One said: 'Shini and Joel hit it off instantly and became great friends before anything romantic happened between them. 'They keep their work and personal lives completely separate and are the consummate professionals on set. They've been very discreet but a lot of people working on the show know about their off-screen relationship. 'Blue Peter has been sailing some choppy waters recently so it's some really lovely, happy news for the show that they have created this wonderful love story. 'Shini and Joel are young, talented and totally gorgeous together. So far, they've kept their relationship on the down-low but they could very much become the hot new couple on the celebrity circuit in the coming months, especially if Shini gets to do Strictly this year. 'Casting bosses were really impressed with her last year but she didn't quite fit into the mix. A decision on this year's line-up is set to be made in the coming weeks.' It comes just days after it emerged that former Blue Peter stars Helen Skelton, 41, and Gethin Jones, 47, have become close while hosting BBC One's Morning Live. Although Ms Skelton arrived three months after Jones left the children's show, it is believed they bonded over their experience of working on the series. Earlier this year, former host Peter Purves, 86, told of his romantic encounter with fellow presenter Valerie Singleton, while he was married. Ms Singleton, 88, revealed in 2008 they had had a fling. Purves, who became part of the line-up from 1967 to 1978, said: 'It was only one night. We remained great friends.' There were also rumours that Yvette Fielding and co-star Mark Curry dated during their reign in the late 80s and early 90s – although he later came out as gay. While host John Leslie, who was dramatically cleared of a sexual assault charge in 2020, was linked to his co-star Diane Louise-Jordan after she joined in 1990. Social media users have spotted Ms Muthukrishnan and Mawhinney's chemistry thanks to TikTok, where he has more than 15million followers. Earlier this month, the pair were at a garden party at Buckingham Palace where they enjoyed a picnic. Ms Muthukrishnan posted a video as they rated the food on offer, with some fans comparing them to Emma and Dexter from the romcom One Day. In March, bosses axed Blue Peter's live shows, which had been a huge part of the programme's popularity since it was first broadcast in 1958, and began pre-recording them. Former stars shared their memories of working on the show as bosses frantically tried to play down the move.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Northampton Saints hosts pupils' mental health day
More than 300 children from a number of primary schools have taken part in a mental health day at a rugby BBC Radio Northampton Headfest event offered children the chance to learn, relax and get included yoga, gardening and music therapy, as well as sport workshops organised by Northampton Saints and Northampton Town Football Peter presenter Joel Mawhinney, who took part, said: "Events like this are really important to give a heads-up as to what you can do if you find yourself in a tricky situation." Mawhinney, who participated in a BBC Moodboosters session, became the BBC children's programme's 41st presenter in 2022, aged 25."I was speaking to a friend beforehand, thinking about how difficult it must be now growing up, because it is completely different even to when I was a kid, not that long ago," he said. "It's moved on so fast, with technology and social media and there are so many other aspects these guys are going to have to worry about that we probably didn't have to." Zoologist and wildlife presenter Yussef Rafik, best known for presenting BBC Earth Kids show Bugface, helped lead bug hunts at Friday's event at Saints' Franklins Gardens said: "I'm quite passionate about nature, not as a cure to mental health, but as a way of coping and it's certainly helped myself - and I love bugs and the kids seem to be loving it as well, so a bug hunt is the thing to do." Pupils from Cogenhoe Primary School had attended the Headfest event "for the last couple of years" said head teacher Charley said schools had a responsibility to teach pupils strategies for when they felt worried and overwhelmed."And also just to build their resilience and self-esteem, which is obviously a skill which they need for life, to thrive in the world we live in," she Radio Northampton executive producer Anna Bartlett explained why the radio station had organised the said: "The NHS tells us that one in five eight-to-16-year-olds have some sort of mental health challenge, so we know it's really important that that needs to be addressed." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
