Being the proud owner of a Blue Peter badge has always been something to shout about, and now CBBC is giving kids the chance to earn six for themselves this summer.
A different Blue Peter badge will be celebrated over six weeks, with children between the ages of 6-15 encouraged to apply for each one and show CBBC how they’re getting on by sending in photos and videos of their achievements.
Whilst the badges won’t simply be awarded for just sending/uploading projects to the CBBC website, kids can use what they have made to apply for each badge.
Owning a Blue Peter badges also entitles kids to FREE admission at over 200 events/attractions across the UK.
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The six badges up for grabs are – Green, Sport, Music, Blue, Fan Club and Silver.
Green badges are awarded for sending in letters, pictures and makes that are about the environment, conservation, nature and saving the planet; the Sport badge is awarded for getting active, and for trying a new sport or physical activity; the Music badge – designed by Ed Sheeran – is awarded to those who show off their passion for music by learning a new instrument, or being part of a musical performance; Blue badges are awarded for sending in interesting letters, stories, makes, pictures and poems, as well as potential ideas for the show; the Purple badge is a special badge awarded to those for joining the Blue Peter Fan Club; and finally, the Silver badge is given those who already hold a Blue badge and is awarded for making an extra effort and trying something new.
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How do you apply for a Blue Peter badge?
Applications for each badge in the Blue Peter Six Badges of Summer programme are now open.
If you would like to apply for a badge, you’ll need to do so by post at the moment. Even though email applications were previously accepted for certain badges, these are currently on hold due to the volume of applications received amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The BBC has increased the size of its team in recent weeks to cope with extra demand, but is currently receiving an overwhelming number of emails, which is affecting how quickly it can respond to badge applications.
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Only one badge at a time may be applied for per application.
Children must apply for badges themselves and are encouraged to put in as much effort as they can with their application to make sure it stands out amongst the thousands of others received.
Whilst children between the ages of 6-15 may only be eligible for the Six Badges of Summer, the little ones have no reason to feel left out as they can still get involved with the six-week wall chart and sticker pack that’s available to download on the CBeebies website here.
Even little CBeebies kids can join #BluePeter's 6 Badges of Summer challenge!
Six weeks. Six stickers. Six reasons to get involved.
For more information about the Blue Peter Six Badges of Summer programme and to check out some of the amazing work already submitted, visit the CBBC website here.
You can find further T&Cs, FAQs and apply for Blue Peter badges here.
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BBC cancel three hit shows, including legendary stand-up series, Live at the Apollo
Danny Jones
The BBC have reportedly cancelled three of their hit TV shows, including the long-standing Live at the Apollo.
With the company facing even more cuts and the television industry facing the ever-changing obstacles set about by increasingly dominant digital platforms, the hit live stand-up series, which has run for over two decades, is the latest big IP on the chopping block.
But that’s not all: joining them in cancellation after long stints on the box are Celebrity Mastermind and the most recently rebooted version of British favourite, Blankety Blank, brought back with Bradley Walsh as host back in 2020.
With roughly 65 full-length seasons between them, and literally hundreds of episodes under their belt, the unfortunate trio have fallen foul for varying reasons.
At first I read that as Celebrity Masterchef, but that show is immortal.
Really surprised to see Live at the Apollo go. It can't cost much and has been instrumental in giving many comedians their big TV breaks. https://t.co/BrT8k2hoYd
While Walsh announced that he was quitting the programme after three series (the fourth was set to begin recording later this year) largely due to scheduling conflicts, the driving force behind the decision is the aforementioned cutbacks.
In case you hadn’t heard, the BBC has seen an approximately £500 million reduction in annual spending, which has meant that one or more productions were always going to be hit hard as a result.
They are aiming to save upwards of £100m annually, which is set to come in the form of 100-150 hours less originally telly by the end of 2028.
Issuing an official statement, they say: “We are incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows and would like to thank everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, for bringing them to screen and making them such a success over many years.
“Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the entertainment genre.”
With Live at the Apollo, in particular, having served as an important proving ground and spotlighting stage for rising comics, the UK mainstay originally hosted by Jack Dee is sadly going the way of Mock the Week by being pulled after 22 years on the air.
As you can see, it’s already been heavily mourned by performers around the comedy circuit and fans alike. It goes without saying that those within the industry know all too well how important it’s been.
Unfortunately, more announcements and cuts are expected throughout the remainder of the year as the BBC‘s entertainment arm tries to regain profitability.
This means that these three likely won’t be the last to be axed; who knows? Given that even the biggest of IPs don’t seem to be safe, maybe even mainline Mastermind could be in trouble…
It’s also worth noting that this news comes not long after the media giants launched their big campaign to reassert their domestic significance and beyond, with more and more people straying away from the TV licence in favour of modern streaming.
You can read the full ‘savings’ update right HERE.
Co-op Live appears to tease major Mariah Carey Christmas gig sending fans into a frenzy
Emily Sergeant
All we want for Christmas… is Mariah Carey in Manchester.
And maybe, just maybe, our Christmas wish might come true very soon, as Co-op Live has taken to social media today to tease its next gig announcement with its hundreds of thousands of followers, and without jumping to conclusions, it does appear to be hinting at the queen of Christmas herself making an appearance.
Look, we know it’s only July and right in the middle of summer, but even if you think it’s too early to be talking about the festive season, you have to admit that the potential of Mariah Carey coming to Manchester is worth getting excited any time of the year.
The US pop powerhouse last performed in our city nearly a decade ago now when she brought her famous All I Want For Christmasshow to the UK for the first time ever, taking to sold-out Manchester Arena stage on 10 December 2017.
Mariah has not performed in Manchester since, but all that could be set to change as Co-op Live has hinted that an announcement is ‘coming soon’.
Taking to its official social media platforms today, Co-op Live posted a very festive-themed AI video of snow falling on the arena as the camera zoomed in and the instrumental of Mariah’s absolutely iconic hit ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ playing in the background, and the caption hinting at the song’s title too.
Of course, we could be wrong, it might not be Mariah at all, but if the 300+ comments from fans in a frenzy thinking the same as us are anything to go by, it’s looking like we might be right.
“The countdown to Christmas is on,” Co-op Live said in its video, before letting fans know that they would be getting some form of confirmation soon.
Emily Sergeant -
8th July 2020 
