A Blue Peter legend has recalled how she once accidentally flashed some hot air balloon passengers, while sunbathing topless on her balcony.
Valerie Singleton, 88, joined the longest-running children’s TV show back in 1962 and serving as a presenter for 10 memorable years, until her exit in 1972.
The broadcaster has opened up on a mortifying incident that saw her reveal slightly more of herself than intended.
Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, she explained how at her home in Dorset, she had cleverly arranged plants around her so that she could sunbathe topless with privacy.
However, while she had hidden herself from view of her neighbours, Valerie explained that she hadn’t anticipated being seen from the skies.
She recalled: ‘I was sitting on my balcony and I had window boxes all around so I could sunbathe topless without all my neighbours seeing me. Then suddenly, quite a long way off, I saw a hot air balloon.’
A Blue Peter legend has recalled how she once accidentally flashed some hot air balloon passengers, while sunbathing topless on her balcony (Blue Peter badge seen in 1989)
Valerie Singleton, 88, joined the longest-running children’s TV show back in 1962 and serving as a presenter for 10 memorable years, until her exit in 1972 (pictured in 2018)
The broadcaster has opened up on a mortifying incident that saw her reveal slightly more of herself than intended (pictured on the show with John Noakes and Peter Purves in 1971)
In accordance with her friendly nature, she immediately jumped up to wave to the passengers, momentarily forgetting her state of undress.
Valerie admitted being slightly too slow to grab a towel to protect her modesty in time, giving the hot air balloon quite an eyeful.
She told listeners: ‘Quite without thinking I stood up and waved to it and then the hot air balloon turned to me and dipped its basket to me.
‘I was a bit too late to reach a towel. They must have had binoculars because they were quite a long way off.’
After her time on Blue Peter, Valerie went on to host the likes of Nationwide, The Money Programme and BBC Radio 4 show PM.
She reflected on her time on the beloved TV show in March, writing in The Mail on Sunday about the importance of the programme for children.
Valerie penned: ‘I’ve lost count of the people who’ve told me they had been inspired to pursue their careers – be it designing hats, becoming a painter or an engineer – because of something they had seen on the show. That is the lasting impact of Blue Peter.’
She added: ‘So yes, I can happily say I loved every moment of my nearly ten years at the helm, and I missed it terribly when I left in 1972.
After her time on Blue Peter, Valerie went on to host the likes of Nationwide, The Money Programme and BBC Radio 4 show PM (pictured on Blue Peter)
She reflected on her time on the beloved TV show in March, writing in The Mail on Sunday about the importance of the programme for children
‘But I remain a member of the Blue Peter family. Today, I’m friends with many of the presenters who came after me, from Mark Curry and Tim Vincent (who was actually born as I left) to Janet Ellis, Diane Louise Jordan and Anthea Turner.
‘And I kept watching it religiously too, that is until 2012 when the powers-that-be removed it from its long-standing slot just before the six o’clock news and placed it on their dedicated children’s channel CBeebies.’
During her Blue Peter stint, Valerie presented alongside Christopher Trace, John Noakes, Peter Purves and Lesley Judd.
And in 2008, she memorably revealed that she and a then-married Peter had had an affair while on the show.
Revealing the illicit tryst, she said she liked ‘the pirate type. And men who give me what I call BSE – a big sexual experience.’
Valerie explained: ‘It was one of those impulsive, enjoyable experiences – but more a friendship thing than anything else.
‘Sleeping with people you work with is generally not advisable, so we didn’t want to pursue it.
‘There was always an unspoken acknowledgement that something rather nice had happened.’
During her Blue Peter stint, Valerie presented alongside Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and John Noakes (pictured L-R)
And in 2008, she memorably revealed that she and a then-married Peter (middle) had had an affair while on the show (pictured with John and Peter in 1970)
Peter, 86, recently opened up on the drunken fling in an interview with The Telegraph last month.
He said: ‘To be fair it was only one night. And there was never any sexual tension on screen. We’ve remained great friends.
‘Although we also used to fall out all the time. Val was/is extremely high maintenance. She always expected people to do things for her.
‘She’d be sitting in the studio writing letters and call an assistant to ‘get me an envelope’. Occasionally she would get under my skin.
‘We were in Mexico once and we weren’t speaking. We only spoke to each other through John, I can’t remember why.’
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