'Dug up' Blue Peter millennium time capsule set to go on UK tour
When the Blue Peter Millennium Time Capsule was accidentally dug up by construction workers 33 years earlier than planned it made headline news.
Published: 10 May 2018
Although unexpected, it is brilliant that we can let families across the UK see the contents of the 1998 time capsule earlier than planned before it is sealed away until 2050 at The National Archives.
Now, as part of Blue Peter’s 60th Birthday year, the contents of that time capsule - which have been stored in a secret location ever since - are going on tour around the UK as plans for a new Diamond Time Capsule are also announced.
The tour will give people an exclusive opportunity to view the unearthed items before they are finally sealed and stored in The National Archives later this year. The items, which were decided by viewers of the show in 1998, include a set of British coins, a set of Tellytubby dolls, a photograph of Diana, Princess of Wales, viewers’ letters about how life was at the time, a Roald Dahl Treasury Book, a France 98 World Cup football and quirkier items such as an insulin pen and an asthma inhaler.
Various Blue Peter items such as a set of badges and a history of the programme were also put into the capsule before it was buried by then presenters Katy Hill and Richard Bacon on 11 June 1998 beneath the Millennium Dome, in Greenwich, now the O2 Arena. It was due to be excavated in 2050 but builders accidentally dug it up in February 2017 amid a blaze of publicity. What was left of the capsule and its contents (a Spice Girls CD has yet to be found) were returned to Blue Peter where they have remained in a secret location - until now.
The Blue Peter Time Capsule tour starts on Friday 25 May in Birmingham and will visit Hull, Newcastle, Leicester, Glasgow, Norwich, Brighton and Salford as well as the Royal Welsh, Cornwall County, and Great Yorkshire shows. Various past presenters, including Valerie Singleton, Diane-Louise Jordan, Janet Ellis, Katy Hill and Ayo Akinwolere, as well as current presenters, Lindsey Russell and Radzi Chinyanganya, will be on hand during the tour to reflect on how generations have marked Blue Peter history and why its time capsules have captured the imagination of the nation.
Full details of locations, including which presenters are appearing at which event, can be found at the Blue Peter website bbc.co.uk/bluepeter
It is hoped the tour will inspire the current generation to think about what they would like to put in the next time capsule - the Diamond Time Capsule - which will be also be stored in The National Archives in October to mark the show’s 60th birthday.
Blue Peter will ask viewers to submit their ideas via the website as to what should be included during a special Time Capsule programme on Thursday 24 May on CBBC at 5.30pm.
Viewers will also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get involved in the design of the Diamond Time Capsule as well as being able to vote for the final objects to be included.
Ewan Vinnicombe, Editor, Blue Peter, says: “I can remember the 1998 Millennium Time Capsule getting buried when I was in my first year working at BBC Children’s… time certainly flies and now, 20 years later, as the show’s Editor I am deciding the future of one of the most iconic parts of the programme. Although unexpected, it is brilliant that we can let families across the UK see the contents of the 1998 time capsule earlier than planned before it is sealed away until 2050 at The National Archives. I can’t wait to find out what our audience want to put in the special Diamond Time Capsule in our very exciting 60th big birthday year.”
Blue Peter will celebrate its 60th anniversary on 16 October 2018 and has a host of special events taking place across the next six months to honour the occasion including working with the Red Arrows, celebrating 30 years of the show’s Green Badge, and marking a summer of sport with a new Sport Badge, designed by presenter Radzi.
Past and current presenters will all get involved, there’ll be exciting and exclusive competitions, big challenges for Lindsey and Radzi, and of course the special 60th birthday Diamond Time Capsule.
Blue Peter is on CBBC every Thursday at 5.30pm.
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Timeline of the Blue Peter Time Capsules
1971
On Monday 7 June 1971 a tree was planted outside Television Centre for the second millennium - the year 2000. Nearby a box was buried for the presenters of Blue Peter to dig up in the year 2000 and inside the box were souvenirs including a copy of the 1970 Blue Peter Book, photographs of Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves and a spool of tape with the Blue Peter signature tune and Val, John and Peter saying "hello", Petra barking and Jason meowing. A map showing the exact location of where the box was buried was put in the vaults of the BBC's bank.
1984
As the site at the front of Television Centre was to be dug up and developed, on 30 March 30 1984 the tree and box for the year 2000 were moved to the Blue Peter Garden and a second box commemorating the removal was also buried with items including six of Goldie’s hairs, a record of the Blue Peter signature tune arranged by Mike Oldfield and current copy of the Radio Times with an article about Blue Peter. A second map showing the exact location of the boxes for the year 2000 was put in the vaults of the BBC's bank.
1998
Another new time capsule, the Millennium Time Capsule, is buried in the floor of the Millennium Dome in Greenwich. It was due to be opened in 2050 but was accidentally dug up by builders in February 2017. The contents are going on a UK tour in 2018 to mark Blue Peter’s 60th birthday.
1999
By Christmas 1999 hundreds of former and current viewers had written to the office from all over the world to remind the team to open the boxes originally buried in 1971. Newspaper stories that Blue Peter had lost the map proved to be untrue, although it could have been more helpful… no one had any idea how deep the boxes were! After several hours of digging Katy, Konnie, Simon and Matt were there with gardener Clare Bradley as the boxes again saw the (dwindling) light of day.
2000
In a special programme broadcast on 7 January 2000, Val, John and Peter were joined by Janet and Simon and the current presenting team to open the 1971 boxes. Despite the ravages of decay and vast amounts of water the contents were reasonably well preserved. The hole in the Blue Peter garden was filled and a new time capsule buried, for viewers who - like those of 1971 - might have children of their own watching Blue Peter 29 years later in 2029.
2012
With Blue Peter’s move to BBC North, the box buried in 2000 had to be moved and is now buried in the Blue Peter garden at MediaCity in Salford. It is due to be opened in 2029.
2017
Builders accidentally dig up the time capsule buried in 1998. It’s 33 years too early but the capsule and its contents are returned to Blue Peter and the show places the contents in a secret location for safety until the 60th birthday year.
2018
The contents of the unearthed 1998 time capsule come out of hiding and go on tour before being archived at The National Archive in Kew. On Thursday 24 May 2018, viewers will be able to submit ideas via the website as to which objects should be included in a new Diamond Time Capsule. On Thursday 21 June, viewers will find out how they can get involved in the design of the new time capsule and how to vote for the shortlisted items. The contents of the new Diamond Time Capsule will be revealed in October 2018 to mark the show’s 60th birthday before it is sealed and stored at The National Archives for 20 years until the show’s 80th birthday in 2038.
