Biddy Baxter: Special Award Recipient in 2013

Biddy Baxter MBE, award-winning British TV producer and creative force behind Blue Peter, has become a BAFTA Special Award winner.

Presented by her long-term friend Sir David Attenborough the award recognises Baxter’s outstanding contribution to children’s media and the TV industry.

As editor and producer of Blue Peter between 1962 and 1988, Baxter helped shape the imagination, creative talents and resourcefulness of generations of children. It remains one of the UK’s most iconic children’s programmes. And it was awarded two BAFTAs under Baxter’s stewardship.

Now, Baxter has been honoured with her very own Special Award at the 2013 BAFTA Children’s Awards.

Harvey Elliott, chair of BAFTA’s Children’s Committee, said:

“Biddy’s impact on children’s media and entertainment is undeniable. She is a veritable national institution.”

Baxter first joined the BBC in 1955 as a radio studio manager. Then, she became the producer of Listen with Mother and School Radio’s Junior English programmes. After which she then moved into TV, producing children’s programmes for the BBC before becoming Blue Peter editor in 1962.

Part of Baxter’s legacy is that, together with Edward Barnes and Rosemary Gill, she devised the Blue Peter Badge and instigated the annual Blue Peter Appeals. Millions of pounds have been raised for charities at home and abroad through these appeals.

During her two-decade stint at Blue Peter the show won 22 awards. Plus, Baxter herself was named in 12 BAFTA nominations, winning two – the Television: Specialised Programme Award in 1970 and the Television Rediffusion Star Awards: Harlequin Award in 1982.

Whilst working on Blue Peter, in 1981, Baxter was awarded an MBE in recognition of her exceptional contribution to children’s TV. Then, when she eventually left the show on 27 June 1988, viewers saw her awarded the programme’s highest honour: a gold Blue Peter badge.

On hearing news of her BAFTA, Baxter described herself as “incredibly lucky to have had such a long and rewarding broadcasting career”. She added:

“Thank you BAFTA so very much for this unexpected and greatly prized award.”

In 2003, in memory of her late husband, Baxter founded the John Hosier Music Trust with Sir Simon Rattle as its patron. The trust provides scholarships to enable talented music students from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake their postgraduate studies. So far, the trust has awarded 11 scholarships and two special awards.

Baxter also published a book containing 50 years of letters and emails from BBC viewers which raised £20,000 for the trust in 2008.

A BAFTA Special Award is one of our highest honours and recognises an outstanding contribution to film, games or TV. You can see more recipients in our Awards database.

Baxter was presented her Special Award at the BAFTA Children’s Awards ceremony in London on 24 November 2013.

For more inspiring stories from the world of film, games and TV, explore our BAFTA Award Stories section.