Biddy Baxter: Blue Peter's formidable editor dies aged 92
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after the producer complained about her lack of discipline. Trace eventually left the programme and was replaced by Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves.
But it was John Noakes who became the programme’s biggest star, undergoing the show’s toughest physical challenges and appearing on screen with his dog Shep.
While Singleton and Purves bit their tongues, Noakes famously clashed with Baxter.
He once said: “Biddy was bossy, told us what to do, and like many talented people, was apt to take things out on those who worked for her.”
Singleton once paid tribute to her former boss and mentor as “the fairy godmother of Blue Peter” and told The Andrew Marr Show that “[Baxter] taught us so much about TV… she was doing everything a mother should do only in a more public, professional setting.”
Baxter’s managing style was not appreciated by all of her presenters
Baxter’s working day was legendary and the description of being “Biddyfied” struck fear into young producers.
“At 7am she would start calling executives – often in bed – to give them new ideas. By 9am there was her own programme to complete,” said Ellis.
In 1969, the show expanded to 25 minutes and then to 30 minutes in 1973. Audience figures rose to more than 8 million at the peak of its popularity.
Baxter had a reputation for hard work and high standards. She once turned up at the office at 1am furious that the next day’s show was not properly planned.
However, in 1988, she took voluntary redundancy, saying she felt the programme had gone down hill after Ted Francis took over as Executive Producer – a claim he has disputed.
Baxter continued to work on children’s TV after leaving Blue Peter
She retired to Dorset, but continued to contribute to children’s television as chairman of the British Film Institute’s Children’s Film and Television Foundation.
In 1998, Baxter was awarded a Children’s BAFTA Special Award for “outstanding creativity in the field of children’s television”.
And in 2006, she stepped back into the world of children’s television, acting as judge for a competition on CBBC.
Biddy Baxter never married and had no children. No details of any survivors have been released.
Janet Ellis said Baxter “touched so many lives and my heart goes out to those she leaves behind.”
BC) Interviews by Jane Thynne, the content editor of the BBC Archive
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