30th December 1965 - 26th June 1978

Born: 6th March 1934

Presented with Christopher Trace, Valerie Singleton, Peter Purves and Lesley Judd.

"It was a bit like an overgrown schoolboy's job. I was Peter Pan really. I sometimes think I still am... Peter and me worked so well together, like Laurel and Hardy."

Born in Shelf, John was educated at Rishworth School where he excelled in cross-country running and gymnastics. After leaving school, he trained as an engine fitter for the RAF and the BOAC before deciding to become an actor.

Recruited when Blue Peter went twice-weekly in 1965, he soon became a popular fixture and established himself as the show's action man. He's often remembered for the catchphrase "Get down, Shep", but contrary to popular belief, Shep was not the only dog that John was partnered with on Blue Peter. His first dog was called Patch.

John said he survived the gruelling job of presenting Blue Peter by "developing this idiot called John Noakes" as his on-screen persona.

After leaving the programme, John went on to present several series of Go With Noakes, which capitalised on his action man image. In the show he travelled the length and breadth of the UK with the ever-faithful Shep by his side.

In 1982 John and his wife set sail to travel the world, but were shipwrecked in a hurricane. In 1984 they set out again and ended up in Majorca. Intending to stay only three days they fell in love with the place, and are still there.

To mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of Blue Peter, John Noakes was sent up a skyscraper to examine a giant billboard featuring a picture of John and Shep, taken twenty years previously

Top Blue Peter moment: Becoming the first civilian in Britain to make a five mile high free fall with the RAF.