Biddy Baxter MBE was born in Leicester and educated at Wyggeston Girls' Grammar School, Leicester and St Mary's College, Durham University. She was the first graduate from Durham to join the BBC [1]. She is best known as the editor of the long-running popular BBC One children’s magazine show Blue Peter, a position she held from 1965 to 1988. She was also its producer from 1962 to 1965. As editor of the programme, Baxter devised much of the format that is still broadcast today.
Notably, Baxter devised and introduced the Blue Peter badge to encourage children to send in programme ideas, pictures, letters and stories and also she introduced the now famous annual appeals. She was awarded a gold badge herself when she stood down as editor from the programme. In 1981, Baxter was honoured with an MBE. She is also a fellow of the Royal Television Society, and received an honorary D. Litt by the University of Newcastle in 1988. Biddy Baxter was married to the BBC Schools music producer and musical educator John Hosier, who died in 2000.
References
- Barnes, Edward and Baxter, Biddy Blue Peter The Inside Story (ISBN 09489555003, published by Ringpress Books, 1989
- The Mark Lawson Interview, repeatedly broadcast on BBC 4 throughout May 2007 as part of the 'Children's Television' season.
