Valerie Singleton

Valerie Singleton OBE (born 9 April 1937) is an English television and radio presenter, best known as a presenter of the popular children's series, Blue Peter.

Early life

She was educated at Frensham Heights School in Surrey and at the independent Arts Educational School, Tring Park in Hertfordshire. Singleton wanted to be a dancer and for two years attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She won a scholarship for her first term and began her career as an actress at the New Theatre in Bromley. In 1959, she starred in the sitcom The Adventures of Brigadier Wellington-Bull. She began presenting on BBC Radio in 1963, hosting "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" for the Light Programme. She was also a reporter on BBC2's "Time Out" in 1964.

Blue Peter

She joined the BBC in 1961 as a continuity announcer and in 1962 joined Blue Peter, where she stayed until 1972. She then continued until 1975 in a part-time role as a 'roving reporter'. Along with John Noakes, she continues to be more closely associated with Blue Peter than any other former presenter. (Singleton was for a long time credited as being the third presenter, but the disclosure in 1998 of Anita West as her predecessor meant she slipped down to fourth.)