Blue Peter

we all siad it was strange when it was frist siad but after thinking bout it he could be good

He's a good choice, I thought it when it was first 'revealed' on here. I don't see what all the commotion is about.

He might be good but he's a CBBC veteran - a shame they haven't gone for a relative newcomer.

Just looking at him on the various You Tube clips he seems a versatile presenter....
Maybe a safe of hands as the others will jump ship pre Manchester move?

Helen would be a great loss, as even with the present shoddy studio content, she comes across as one of the better Blue Peter presenters.

But in my view a relative newcomer’s at their time– Pete Duncan, Liz Barker, Sarah Green, Matt Baker, Simon Groom, etc, always seem to make better presenters, than the more established presenters like: Anthea Turner, Mark Curry ...

It does seems like they're putting an established "name" on the show to give it a boost.

Suggest (again) it's short-term pending the imminent Manchester move.

I thought Joel's final show was great! Job well done to the team. As for the Christmas show element, Blue Peter has definitely returned - it was an enjoyable watch and nice to see such a good return to form. That makes it all the more disappointing to see Joel go. The studio looked fab, tacky, but fab. I liked how they brought the nativity back and the famous huge choir singing O Come All Ye Faithful was a brilliant touch and harked back to the Blue Peter of old. I feel that the best thing about the current presenting team is that the chemistry is very real, and that was obvious tonight, with the presenters saying that Joel was their best friend and the genuine tears shed.
I also found something that Andy said rather interesting, he said that when Joel and Helen joined, it was like having a fresh start which almost suggests that things before weren't too great beforehand?!
Look forward to the new year now!

Yes, I noticed in the corner of my eye at work that it was almost a return to the traditional Christmas show.. Especially at the end! Even the silver ship!!

A great prog

Great to see the Chalk Farm Band back!

Have they already done the Christmas Show?
I'm sure in my day it used to go out on Christmas Eve in the BBC One (non CBBC) schedule. I could understand it going out in its normal schedule the week before Christmas, but this week is a bit too soon isn't it?

Part of me wonders if they revived the traditional Christmas ending because this is the last time they'll be at TV Centre and can do the "here they are coming up the hill now" bit with the choir and band coming through the studio doors? (at least in the traditional way...)

Yes, and it's all the fault of BBC1's schedulers because there isn't any CBBC in the afternoons next week, which is rubbish really. I don't even think most schools will have broken up by next Monday. Previously it would have gone out much closer, the nearest normal transmission day, even if it was, as you say, Christmas Eve.