Who is Biddy Baxter? Legendary Blue Peter editor dies at 92

Monday, August 11, 2025 – Biddy Baxter, the long-serving editor who transformed Blue Peter into one of Britain’s most loved children’s TV shows, has died at the age of 92.

Baxter led the programme from 1965 to 1988, introducing pets, charity appeals, and adventurous presenter challenges. Her style mixed creativity with strict discipline, which won her both praise and criticism.

Born Joan Maureen Baxter in Leicester in May 1933, she got her nickname “Biddy” at school. Growing up during World War II taught her to “make do and mend,” a value she later brought to Blue Peter. She studied at Durham University before joining the BBC in 1955 as a radio studio manager.

Her early BBC work included producing Listen with Mother and school radio programmes. In 1962, she became a Blue Peter producer, quickly making big changes. She created the famous Blue Peter badge, designed by Tony Hart, and introduced pets like Petra and Goldie. The pet segments became iconic, attracting thousands of letters from children.

Baxter believed in audience involvement long before it was common. She asked children to send in ideas, setting up a detailed card index so letters could be answered personally. By her own estimate, 75% of Blue Peter content came from viewers.

As editor from 1965, she expanded the show’s reach with location filming, charity appeals, and recycling drives. The programme grew in popularity, airing twice a week. She fiercely protected its reputation, even clashing with presenters like John Noakes over commercial work.

Though her leadership style was sometimes called “tyrannical,” many credit her with keeping Blue Peter at the top for over two decades. She stepped down in 1988, reportedly due to internal BBC politics.

Baxter later worked as a consultant until 2000 and received several honours, including a Blue Peter Gold Badge and a special Bafta award in 2013. For many, she will always be remembered as the woman who made Blue Peter a television institution.