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Edward Barnes: a key figure in the development of children’s TV

Posted on 11th September 2021 by Andrew Nairn
Last updated on 22nd September 2021 Filed under Opinion

The death of Edward Barnes truly marks the passing of one of the greats of children’s television. He spent 30 years working in children’s programmes – around half of it as the deputy head then head of the department.

He oversaw a remarkable range of programmes. The BBC’s children’s service under him – and his successor Anna Home – was truly BBC TV in miniature.

Virtually every genre had a place and there was a sense that the cartoons and fun were ultimately there to support the remarkable content which stretched young imaginations.

His role in the creation of Newsround is widely chronicled. His late wife Dorothy Smith contributed many fine and memorable history items to Blue Peter.

She had an incredible sense of the “hook” or “detail” which could engage a child in history – so often a dry and boring subject in the hands of a bad teacher.

The quality of the drama made for children – sometimes on modest budgets – is also astounding in retrospect.

The respect Edward Barnes and his colleagues had for young people is evidenced by the surviving replies to letters he received.

As we all like talking about Pres, it’s interesting to note how much survives thanks to Blue Peter. Legendary editor Biddy Baxter tried to ensure copies of each programme were kept at a time when junking was common.

Until 1977 Blue Peter was one of the few programmes regularly afforded the honour of a “clock start” – normally reserved, of course, for the news and major outside broadcasts. This, at least subliminally, added to the impression it was an important and prestigious programme.

This became impractical after 1977 as Blue Peter moved to a later slot after Newsround.

Like many live programmes, Blue Peter rarely ran exactly to time. This must have been a challenge for Presentation going into the junction at 5.39pm – including a trail for the regional news plus the clock for the Evening News.

But of course Pres is there to support the programmes.

Few young people knew the name of Edward Barnes but he gave them so many programmes to treasure.

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FEATURE IMAGE:

PICTURED: Edward Barnes (1970). COPYRIGHT: BBC.

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Tags: BBC, Blue Peter, CBBC, Edward Barnes, Newsround

Dates for the Diary

21st January 2023: BBC Look North (Hull) moves to temporary studio to allow for studio upgrade.

24th January: the first stage of the BBC’s transition to HD-only broadcasting on satellite begins.

- BBC One South HD launches.
- BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Two Northern Ireland go HD-only.
- BBC One Nightlight will appear on channel 101 on older, SD-only satellite receivers in South England and Northern Ireland. This is an SD-only version of BBC One, with no local programming.
- BBC News SD, CBBC SD and BBC Three SD will migrate to 12422H..

February 2023: new set for BBC Midlands Today goes live.

13th February 2023: Sky Kids launches.

Q1 2023: BBC Chameleon branding introduced on air for BBC Weather, CBBC and CBeebies.

April 2023: BBC News Channel and BBC World News merge.

November/December 2023: World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23).

Q1 2024: SD versions of BBC channels close on satellite.

2024: BBC Four and CBBC go online-only.

2024: BBC Radio 4 Extra goes online-only.

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