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Gethin Jones to leave Blue Peter
Gethin Jones, one of the presenters of the BBC's flagship
children's programme Blue Peter, is to leave the team at the end of
the current series as he moves on to the next stage in his career.
Gethin became the 31st presenter of Blue Peter on 26 April 2005,
alongside Konnie Huq, Matt Baker, Liz Barker and Zoe Salmon.
He announced his departure on the programme on BBC One this afternoon (Tuesday 8 April).
Since Gethin joined the Blue Peter family he has undertaken many
fantastic adventures, including becoming the first civilian to
complete the 30-mile Yomp of the Royal Marine Commandos.
He has
flown with the Red Arrows; fought as a Samurai warrior in Japan;
survived in the Bolivian jungle; played violin with the BBC
Philharmonic Orchestra in the Proms; trekked to the top of the UK's
four tallest mountains; learnt how to race as a jockey; escaped
from a submarine with the Royal Navy; trained with the Welsh
national rugby team and played a Cyberman in Doctor Who.
Gethin has also just returned from a trip to China, where he helped
look after baby Giant Pandas and trained to be a Shaolin monk.
These adventures will be shown on Blue Peter in May.
Tim Levell, Editor, Blue Peter, said: "Gethin has been a brilliant
Blue Peter presenter, who has taken on everything we've thrown at
him with complete dedication – he really is the total action man.
"He also cemented his young fanbase and helped raise Blue Peter's
profile last year with his starring run on Strictly Come Dancing,
in which he reached the semi-finals.
"We wish Gethin all the best
for his future career on TV."
Gethin said: "I've had a career on Blue Peter that you wouldn't
even dream about and for that I feel privileged and fortunate.
"I've
appreciated every day of the past three-and-a-bit years and am grateful
to all the viewers for tuning in. It's astonishing how much the
little blue badge can help others, and long may that continue...
"It's
very sad to be 'jumping ship', but I will still be on-screen until
the end of the series whilst working on other projects.
"I've loved
it, lived it... and now I feel the time is right to leave it."
Richard Deverell, Controller, BBC Children's, said: "Gethin has
more than lived up to our very high expectations of Blue Peter
presenters with his total commitment, willingness to try anything
and limitless good humour.
"He's done a brilliant job and we wish
him well.
"We are already working hard to find a new presenter who
can continue where Gethin finishes – ensuring Blue Peter is a must-watch programme loved by children across the UK."
Also on the same priogramme, Blue Peter will reveal that the show's
viewers have more than doubled the target for this year's appeal.
More than 500,000 CDs, DVDs and games discs have now been collected for
the Disc Drive appeal, run with Barnardo's, to help young carers in
the UK.
Blue Peter is looking for a new presenter to take over from
Gethin for the autumn series in September 2008.
Gethin Facts
 Gethin Jones is a keen rugby player, tennis player and
golfer, as well as a talented musician with grade eight violin and
grade six piano. He was the leader of three county orchestras.
He was born on 12 February 1978.
While on Blue Peter, he has presented 270 shows, made 175
location reports, visited 17 countries and presented with five
other presenters.
There have been 33 presenters since the programme began.
The current team also includes Zoe Salmon and Andy Akinwolere.
The Blue Peter team also includes five pets: two dogs
(Lucy and Mabel), two cats (Socks and Cookie) and a tortoise
(Shelley).
Blue Peter began on 16 October 1958 and is the longest
running children's programme in the world.
Gethin appeared as a Cyberman in an episode of Doctor Who
in 2006. He also appeared as himself in the pilot episode of The
Sarah-Jane Adventures in 2007.
TD
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