Gethin Jones to exit Blue Peter

Gethin Jones, one of the presenters of the BBC’s flagship children’s programme Blue Peter, is to leave the team at the end of the current series as he moves on to the next stage in his career.

Gethin became the 31st presenter of Blue Peter on 26th April 2005, alongside Konnie Huq, Matt Baker, Liz Barker and Zoe Salmon.

Since Gethin joined the Blue Peter family, he has undertaken many fantastic adventures, including becoming the first civilian to complete the 30 mile Yomp of the Royal Marine Commandos. He has flown with the Red Arrows; fought as a Samurai warrior in Japan; survived in the Bolivian jungle; played violin with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in the Proms; trekked to the top of the UK's four tallest mountains; learnt how to race as a jockey; escaped from a submarine with the Royal Navy; trained with the Welsh national rugby team and played a Cyberman in Doctor Who.

Gethin has also just returned from a trip to China, where he helped look after baby Giant Pandas and trained to be a Shaolin monk. These adventures will be shown on Blue Peter in May.

Tim Levell, Editor, Blue Peter, said: “Gethin has been a brilliant Blue Peter presenter, who has taken on everything we've thrown at him with complete dedication – he really is the total action man. He also cemented his young fanbase and helped raise Blue Peter's profile last year with his starring run on Strictly Come Dancing, in which he reached the semi-finals. We wish Gethin all the best for his future career on TV."

Gethin said: "I’ve had a career on Blue Peter that you wouldn’t even dream about and for that I feel privileged and fortunate. I’ve appreciated every day of the past 3 and a bit years and am grateful to all the viewers for tuning in. It’s astonishing how much the little blue badge can help others, and long may that continue… It’s very sad to be “jumping ship”, but I will still be on-screen until the end of the series whilst working on other projects. I’ve loved it, lived it...and now I feel the time is right to leave it."

Richard Deverell, Controller, BBC Children’s, said: "Gethin has more than lived up to our very high expectations of Blue Peter presenters with his total commitment, willingness to try anything and limitless good humour. He's done a brilliant job and we wish him well. We are already working hard to find a new presenter who can continue where Gethin finishes - ensuring Blue Peter is a must-watch programme loved by children across the UK."

Also on the same show, Blue Peter will reveal that the show's viewers have more than doubled the target for this year's appeal. Over 500,000 CDs, DVDs and games discs have now been collected for the Disc Drive appeal, run with Barnardo's, to help young carers in the UK.

Blue Peter is now looking for a new presenter to take over from Gethin for the autumn series in September 2008.