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Gethin Jones to leave Blue Peter |
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Written by Telly Addict
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Tuesday, 08 April 2008 |
Gethin Jones is to leave Blue Peter at the end of the current series, the BBC have announced
Gethin Jones is to leave the Blue Peter team at the end of the current series as he moves on to the next stage in his career.
Gethin Jones joined Blue Peter as its 31st presenter on 26 April 2005, alongside Konnie Huq, Matt Baker, Liz Barker and Zoe Salmon.
Gethin announced his departure to Blue Peter viewers during this afternoon's Blue Peter on BBC One (Tuesday 8 April).
During his time as a Blue Peter presenter, Gethin Jones has undertaken many fantastic adventures, including becoming the first civilian to complete the 30-mile Yomp of the Royal Marine Commandos. Gethin has also 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.
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."
Today's Blue Peter also revealed that the show's viewers have more than doubled the target for this year's Blue Peter appeal. More than 500,000 CDs, DVDs and games discs have now been collected for the Disc Drive appeal, run with Barnardos, to help young carers in the UK.
Blue Peter is now looking for a new presenter to take over from Gethin for the autumn series in September 2008.
Gethin Jones 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 has been the leader of three county orchestras.
Gethin Jones was born on 12 February 1978.
While on Blue Peter, Gethin has presented 270 shows, made 175 location reports, visited 17 countries and presented with five other presenters.
The current Blue Peter team is Gethin Jones, 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 childrens programme in the world.
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