John Noakes and the infamous baby elephant

John Noakes, 66, known for his madcap escapades and his affection for the show's border collie, Shep, said they hoped to recreate their memorable combination of entertainment and education.

"In a way there will be no change at all," he told the Sunday Times.

"When we did it first time round, we helped give a lot of bored children ideas on what to do.

"Now, more than 20 years after I left the show, I see a lot of middle-aged people retiring early who never did anything but work and really don't know how to fill the time."

Peter Purves, 61, added: "Everybody above 30 grew up with us. Now I think they want to see what happened next."

Current presenters: Matt Baker, Simon Thomas, Liz Barker and Konnie Huq

The presenter said he and Noakes, famed for a particular show when a baby elephant relieved itself live on air, still have a "natural rapport".

"I know what he's going to say, often before he's thought it," he told the newspaper.

"He might not be the brightest tool in the box, but he's always been a brave man, even if he acts very flippantly about it.

"There's more to him than he lets on."

The three presenters were reunited last month for BBC Two's Christmas show I Love a 70s Christmas.

Prized possession: Blue Peter badge

The modern version of the show now has four presenters and is shown three times a week.

But it still sends presenters on special assignments, has charity appeals and makes toys out of kitchen cast-offs such as washing-up liquid bottles and cereal packets.

Noakes, Purves and Singleton have discussed plans for a peak-time magazine show and will present proposals to Lorraine Heggessy, controller of BBC One, next month, the paper reports.