Alex Leger

Author Alex Leger spent a record 36 years as a producer and director on Blue Peter before retiring last year to write the amazing story of his four decades on the renowned children’s TV show.

A former Army officer, he was hired by fabled Blue Peter editor Biddy Baxter and went on to become a stalwart of the show – responsible for many of its most iconic reports from around the world.

His career began with Blue Peter legends John Noakes, Peter Purves and Lesley Judd, and he subsequently worked with and mentored every one of the 30 or so presenters who followed them, including the current team, Helen Skelton and Barney Harwood.

With an audience in excess of eight million regular viewers, the decades following Alex’s arrival on Blue Peter were a golden age for the show and its audience with many memorable moments.

Presenters travelled the world, reporting to their young audience without ever patronising or talking down to them.

Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's TV show and generations of British kids have grown up watching the exploits and adventures of its presenters at home and abroad.

Alex's book, Blue Peter: Behind the Badge, coincides with news the show will be leaving BBC One for a digital channel and marks the end of an era for terrestrial children's broadcasting.

www.bluepeterbook.co.uk