A famous time capsule which was buried on TV then accidentally dug up after 19 years, is coming to Scotland.
When the Blue Peter Millennium Time Capsule was accidentally dug up by construction workers 33 years earlier than planned it made headline news.
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.
It will come to BBC Scotland in Glasgow in August, on a date to be confirmed.
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 June 11 1998 beneath the Millennium Dome, in Greenwich, now the O2 Arena.
Katy Hill and Richard Bacon burying the Blue Peter time capsule in 1998
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.
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.
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, May 24 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.
Blue Peter will celebrate its 60th anniversary in October 16th 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.
Blue Peter is on CBBC every Thursday at 5.30pm.
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