John Noakes climbing Nelson’s Column named as greatest children’s TV moment
The Blue Peter presenter made the climb in 1977.
Blue Peter presenter John Noakes’ ascent of Nelson’s Column has been named as the greatest ever children’s TV moment.
Noakes, known for his stunts, clambered up the towering monument on the children’s show in 1977.
The segment has been named the greatest ever children’s TV moment by magazine TV Years.
Other moments in the top 10 include viewers being told “everything and everybody has to die” on Pipkins, and Rik Mayall reading Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine on Jackanory.
Another moment selected was The Clangers using the joint flag of the USA and USSR as a tablecloth.
But it was Noakes’ climbing stunt which was named the greatest moment for young UK viewers.
TV Years editor Graham Kibble-White said: “Everyone has a favourite memory from children’s TV, so deciding on the top moment was incredibly tough.
“But, ultimately, picking something from the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world, involving its greatest-ever presenter – John Noakes – felt like the right decision.”
Noakes clambered up the column using nothing but a ladder, which was tilted backwards by the overhang of the monument.
After his laborious climb, he descended in a rickety chair to help clean pigeon droppings from the column.
Secured with thin ropes, Noakes then used another ladder to climb to the very top of the statue of Nelson.
TV Years magazine compiled the 50 greatest children’s TV moments in their new issue, out June 4.
The Top 10 Greatest Children’s TV Moments:
The full Top 50 Greatest Children’s TV Moments appear in TV Years magazine, on sale now.
