Millions of viewers, from the very young to the middle-aged, have memories of growing up with a particular television programme. For most, extraordinarily, it's the same one - Blue Peter - the one where ill-tempered animals would attack the presenters, where viewers contributed towards lifeboats and guide dogs, and where countless artefacts were fashioned from squeezy bottles and "sticky-back plastic".

Helen Lederer pays tribute to the great survivor of children's broadcasting on its 35th anniversary, meeting many famous names from the past and reviving memories of the Blue Peter voyage of discovery.

A tribute to Blue Peter on its 35th birthday

See Feature page 40