Blue Peter celebrates its 60th birthday today, marking a significant milestone for Britain’s longest-running children’s television show.The programme made its debut in October 1958, and has remained a firm fixture in the BBC ’s schedule ever since.More than 5,000 episodes have been broadcast, with its most notable hosts including John Noakes, Peter Purves, Janet Ellis and Anthea Turner.From Blue Peter was devised by BBC producer John Hunter Blair, who had been asked by Owen Reed, the corporation’s head of children’s programming, to devise a show for five- to eight-year-olds.The show’s debut episode, which was 15 minutes in length, was broadcast in black and white on 16 October 1958.Its first presenters were Christopher Trace, a relatively unknown actor, and model Leila Williams, best known for winning the Miss Great Britain beauty pageant in 1957.