Popular children's show Blue Peter will move to an entirely pre-recorded format, the BBC has announced.
The beloved series, which aired its first episode in 1958, has been a mix of pre-taped and live shows for the past 67 years.
The current presenting line-up, including Shini Muthukrishnan, Joel Mawhinney and Abby Cook with Henry the dog, will host the show in its new fully pre-recorded mode.
Former Doctor Who star Janet Ellis, who hosted Blue Peter between 1983 and 1987, said that she felt going pre-recorded will take away some magic from the series.
"I feel sorry for this generation of presenters who aren't going to feel that thrill [of live TV]," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme today.
"There is something of an adrenaline rush to doing things live, because things can go wrong, but I think it's also the magic when they go right.
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"It's the best example of teamwork I can think of because you are just as important as everyone else in the studio. And I'm sure there were nervous cameramen, but we all had to do it together and no one could go again because it wasn't quite right the first time."
Former Blue Peter stars Richard Bacon and Simon Thomas echoed the sentiment, with Bacon saying "being live is what made [the show] alive".
As for Thomas, he posted on Instagram: "We probably didn't realise it at the time, but we were working in the last years of the golden age of children's TV, a time when children's programmes filled the afternoons and Saturday mornings on BBC One and ITV."
"An era when audiences were measured in the millions rather than the thousands," he continued. "I don't say golden in arrogant way; but everything has fragmented now and the way children consume entertainment has changed forever. There will never be another era like it again."
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Explaining the decision, a spokesperson for the BBC said the shift will accommodate new viewing habits.
"The programme has been a mix of live and pre-recorded shows for decades and has transitioned to a pre-record model as viewing habits change," they said. "Blue Peter continues to be loved by generations across the UK.
"As we continue to navigate a challenging market and young audience viewing habits evolve, it is necessary to make some changes to ensure that BBC Studios Kids and Family Productions delivers a dynamic, digital-first brand that will future-proof the show and sustain its legacy for years to come."
Blue Peter airs on CBBC every Friday at 5pm, with all episodes available on iPlayer.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
