We're Record Breakers

1977 was not just the year of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebrations, it was also the year that Blue Peter teamed up with The Record Breakers programme to smash the record for the largest number of tap dancers dancing in unison to the same tune.

The idea had come to Blue Peter editor Edward Barnes whilst having lunch with none other than the McWhirter twins, Ross and Norris, who were well known for adjudicating world record attempts on behalf of The Guinness Book of Records. One can only imagine that 'lunch' no doubt consisted of 600 live eels consumed in 10 minutes, followed by a 10 thousand pound pizza, 300 raspberry jellies whilst blindfolded, 30 meatballs and 45 Brussels sprouts consumed in one minute, all washed down by 1 litre of milk shake sucked up a straw in just 47 seconds.

Well, maybe not, but the idea was hatched all-the -same that lunchtime and in December 1977 Record Breakers presenter and former variety entertainer Roy Castle joined 501 girls in a huge roulette wheel shape outside of the BBC Television Centre, to tap dance their way into the Guinness Book of Records.

Other World Records broken live on Blue Peter

Breaking records has been a feature of Blue Peter since it's early days, here are a few of the many records broken on the programme: 

A window cleaner named Terry broke his own world record when he cleaned three panes of glass in just 15.59 seconds as Simon Thomas watched on.

In 2002, Matt Baker partnered hang-glider Judy Leden when she became the first person to pilot a tandem hang-glider at 11,000 feet.

In 2015 Blue Peter present Lindsey broke a world record for applying facial foam beards to 36 people for Red Nose Day 

In 1973 John Noakes set a record for the longest civilian free-fall parachute jump with the RAF at five miles high.

Blue Peter presenter Radzi broke the world record for sitting on 81 whoopee cushions in one minute.

In 2010 Helen Skelton kayaked 2010 miles down the Amazon river for Sport Relief, achieving two Guinness World records. 

In July 1987 Janet Ellis broke her pelvis in training to become the first European woman to achieve a 90-second 2,000 foot parachute jump.  

In September 2019 magician Martin Rees achieved his fourth Guinness World Record break in a live stream on Blue Peter by identifying the most cards out of a deck in one minute. His efforts also earned him a Blue Peter badge.

Andy Akinwolere set the world record for swimming 5 miles across the deepest stretch of water on the planet, the 8,000 metre deep Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Just 10 weeks before his record he could not swim and was terrified of open water.

In 1967 Mr Hales drank 27 raw eggs in front of an amazed John Noakes.

In 1970 103 university students squeezed into a VW Beetle and it moved in order to beat the world record.

In 2009 Helen Skelton, Andy Akinwolere and 98 volunteers broke the world record for a tumbling mattress domino chain.

Strong man Iron Biby broke the world record of the most overhead presses of a human being, lifting Lindsey over his head 69 times.

In September 2020, BP presenter Adam Beales broke the record for the most table tennis balls bounced and caught in shaving foam on the head in 30 seconds. Total number 10.  

At 63 years old in 2021, the Blue Peter show itself holds the record of being the longest-running children's magazine TV programme.

In true Blue Peter style, Janet Ellis took the theatrical
idiom 'break a leg' a little too literally