The show has already been cut from five shows a week in the past year

The corporation said the move would "allow Blue Peter to concentrate on more compelling and ambitious content".

"The purpose of this reduction is emphatically not driven by cost cutting," it added in a statement.

Konnie Huq, who becomes Blue Peter's longest-serving female presenter in December, has also confirmed she is to leave the show next year.

Earlier this month, editor Richard Marson also announced he was to step down - two months after the show apologised for faking the results of a competition.

The incident occurred in November 2006, when a girl touring the studio was asked to pose as a winning caller due to technical difficulties with the phonelines.

Marson has been offered a role as an executive producer within the BBC Children's department.

Over the past year, Blue Peter has been cut from five shows a week to four, and then three.

A BBC spokeswoman said the cuts mainly consisted of "repeated and re-versioned content".

The show celebrates its 50th anniversary in October 2008.