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'''Shep''' (1 May 1971 – 17 January 1987) was a ''[[Blue Peter]]'' dog, a [[Border Collie]]. He was bought by the [[BBC]] to replace [[Patch (dog)|Patch]], one of [[Petra (dog)|Petra]]'s puppies, born in 1965. Shep became the main ''Blue Peter'' dog when Petra died in 1977. Shep debut on Blue Peter on the 16th September 1971 and was named a week later.
'''Shep''' (1 May 1971 – 17 January 1987) was a ''[[Blue Peter]]'' dog, a [[Border Collie]]. He was bought by the [[BBC]] to replace [[Patch (dog)|Patch]], one of [[Petra (dog)|Petra]]'s puppies, born in 1965. Shep became the main ''Blue Peter'' dog when Petra died in 1977. Shep debut on Blue Peter on the 16th September 1971 and was named a week later.


Shep is remembered by British television viewers as inseparable from ''Blue Peter'' presenter [[John Noakes]]. Shep was excitable, and Noakes would often have to restrain him. Noakes' common refrain, "Get down, Shep!", became a [[catchphrase]], and [[The Barron Knights]] released a song with that title. One of his most famous moments is when [[Roy Castle]] came on the show and Shep tried to join in. Shep left ''Blue Peter'' when Noakes departed the show in June 1978.
Shep is remembered by British television viewers as inseparable from ''Blue Peter'' presenter [[John Noakes]]. Shep was excitable, and Noakes would often have to restrain him. Noakes' common refrain, "Get down, Shep!", became a [[catchphrase]], and [[The Barron Knights]] released a song with that title. Shep appeared alongside [[Valerie Singleton]], [[Peter Purves]], [[Lesley Judd]] and [[Simon Groom]] as well as fellow Blue Peter pets Petra, Jason, Jack and Jill and Goldie. One of his most famous moments is when [[Roy Castle]] came on the show and Shep tried to join in. Shep left ''Blue Peter'' when Noakes departed the show in June 1978.


Shep also appeared with Noakes in six series of ''[[Go With Noakes]]'', from 1976 to 1980. Noakes left ''Blue Peter'' on 26 June 1978,<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC programme catalogue entry for Blue Peter, transmission date 26.6.78|url=http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LCH2460H|access-date=30 January 2007}}{{dead link|date=October 2012}}</ref> and the BBC offered to let him keep Shep, as the dog had lived with him since his TV debut.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilkes|first=Joseph|date=29 May 2017|title='Get down Shep!' – Blue Peter's action man John Noakes dies aged 83 after battle with Alzheimer's|newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]]|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/get-down-shep-blue-peters-13107409|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> Despite Shep living with Noakes, the dog was always legally owned by the BBC and in rules that also applied to himself whilst under contract to the BBC, he could not use Shep for advertising or commercial purposes.<ref name="Herald">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15315656.Obituary___John_Noakes__popular_presenter_of_Blue_Peter_in_the_1960s_and_70s/|title=Obituary – John Noakes, popular presenter of Blue Peter in the 1960s and 70s|work=The Herald|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> Noakes was paid a stipend to cover all Shep's costs from the ''Blue Peter'' budget (as was [[Peter Purves]] for 'Petra' and later [[Simon Groom]] for 'Goldie') and as part of the agreement to keep Shep after leaving the show, Noakes agreed to the maintenance of the no-advertising condition.<ref name=Baxter/>{{page needed|date=June 2021}}
Shep also appeared with Noakes in six series of ''[[Go With Noakes]]'', from 1976 to 1980. Noakes left ''Blue Peter'' on 26 June 1978,<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC programme catalogue entry for Blue Peter, transmission date 26.6.78|url=http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/LCH2460H|access-date=30 January 2007}}{{dead link|date=October 2012}}</ref> and the BBC offered to let him keep Shep, as the dog had lived with him since his TV debut.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilkes|first=Joseph|date=29 May 2017|title='Get down Shep!' – Blue Peter's action man John Noakes dies aged 83 after battle with Alzheimer's|newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]]|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/get-down-shep-blue-peters-13107409|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> Despite Shep living with Noakes, the dog was always legally owned by the BBC and in rules that also applied to himself whilst under contract to the BBC, he could not use Shep for advertising or commercial purposes.<ref name="Herald">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15315656.Obituary___John_Noakes__popular_presenter_of_Blue_Peter_in_the_1960s_and_70s/|title=Obituary – John Noakes, popular presenter of Blue Peter in the 1960s and 70s|work=The Herald|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> Noakes was paid a stipend to cover all Shep's costs from the ''Blue Peter'' budget (as was Peter Purves for 'Petra' and later Simon Groom for 'Goldie') and as part of the agreement to keep Shep after leaving the show, Noakes agreed to the maintenance of the no-advertising condition.<ref name=Baxter/>{{page needed|date=June 2021}}


However, shortly after leaving the show, Noakes was furious to discover that what he called his "dog money" ceased to be paid and he confronted the show's producer [[Biddy Baxter]] in a phone call. Baxter was adamant that the programme should no longer be responsible for any of Shep's costs after the dog had left ''Blue Peter'', although she did sympathise with some of his argument and felt that the BBC should pay Noakes for Shep to appear in ''Go With Noakes'' or for 'personal appearances' the dog made. However, according to what she later wrote, Noakes was too angry to discuss the matter, and the two rarely spoke again.<ref name=Baxter/>{{page needed|date=June 2021}} Soon after this angry confrontation, Noakes relinquished Shep, who went to live with Edith Menzies.
However, shortly after leaving the show, Noakes was furious to discover that what he called his "dog money" ceased to be paid and he confronted the show's producer [[Biddy Baxter]] in a phone call. Baxter was adamant that the programme should no longer be responsible for any of Shep's costs after the dog had left ''Blue Peter'', although she did sympathise with some of his argument and felt that the BBC should pay Noakes for Shep to appear in ''Go With Noakes'' or for 'personal appearances' the dog made. However, according to what she later wrote, Noakes was too angry to discuss the matter, and the two rarely spoke again.<ref name=Baxter/>{{page needed|date=June 2021}} Soon after this angry confrontation, Noakes relinquished Shep, who went to live with Edith Menzies.

Revision as of 22:24, 10 December 2024

Shep
SpeciesCanis lupus familiaris
BreedBorder Collie
SexMale
Born1 May 1971
Died17 January 1987 (aged 15 years 8 months)
OwnerJohn Noakes
AppearanceBlue Peter
Go With Noakes

Shep (1 May 1971 – 17 January 1987) was a Blue Peter dog, a Border Collie. He was bought by the BBC to replace Patch, one of Petra's puppies, born in 1965. Shep became the main Blue Peter dog when Petra died in 1977. Shep debut on Blue Peter on the 16th September 1971 and was named a week later.

Shep is remembered by British television viewers as inseparable from Blue Peter presenter John Noakes. Shep was excitable, and Noakes would often have to restrain him. Noakes' common refrain, "Get down, Shep!", became a catchphrase, and The Barron Knights released a song with that title. Shep appeared alongside Valerie Singleton, Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and Simon Groom as well as fellow Blue Peter pets Petra, Jason, Jack and Jill and Goldie. One of his most famous moments is when Roy Castle came on the show and Shep tried to join in. Shep left Blue Peter when Noakes departed the show in June 1978.

Shep also appeared with Noakes in six series of Go With Noakes, from 1976 to 1980. Noakes left Blue Peter on 26 June 1978,[1] and the BBC offered to let him keep Shep, as the dog had lived with him since his TV debut.[2] Despite Shep living with Noakes, the dog was always legally owned by the BBC and in rules that also applied to himself whilst under contract to the BBC, he could not use Shep for advertising or commercial purposes.[3] Noakes was paid a stipend to cover all Shep's costs from the Blue Peter budget (as was Peter Purves for 'Petra' and later Simon Groom for 'Goldie') and as part of the agreement to keep Shep after leaving the show, Noakes agreed to the maintenance of the no-advertising condition.[4][page needed]

However, shortly after leaving the show, Noakes was furious to discover that what he called his "dog money" ceased to be paid and he confronted the show's producer Biddy Baxter in a phone call. Baxter was adamant that the programme should no longer be responsible for any of Shep's costs after the dog had left Blue Peter, although she did sympathise with some of his argument and felt that the BBC should pay Noakes for Shep to appear in Go With Noakes or for 'personal appearances' the dog made. However, according to what she later wrote, Noakes was too angry to discuss the matter, and the two rarely spoke again.[4][page needed] Soon after this angry confrontation, Noakes relinquished Shep, who went to live with Edith Menzies.

Noakes subsequently appeared in a series of television advertisements for Spillers "Choice Cuts" dog food, using a dog that was indistinguishable from Shep but named Skip.[5] The clear subterfuge led to a deeper rift between him and Baxter.[4] Noakes called her a "stupid woman" in a televised 2008 documentary celebrating the show's 50th anniversary.[6][7][unreliable source?] Shep died on 17th January 1987. Noakes revealed on Fax that Shep had died 3 days before. Noakes often became emotional when asked about him; he openly wept on an edition of The Weakest Link when hostess Anne Robinson asked him about the dog.[8]

See also

Preceded by Blue Peter Dog
1977–1978 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "BBC programme catalogue entry for Blue Peter, transmission date 26.6.78". Retrieved 30 January 2007.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ Wilkes, Joseph (29 May 2017). "'Get down Shep!' – Blue Peter's action man John Noakes dies aged 83 after battle with Alzheimer's". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Obituary – John Noakes, popular presenter of Blue Peter in the 1960s and 70s". The Herald. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Baxter, Biddy (1989), Blue Peter The Inside Story, Interpet Ringpull BBC Books; ISBN 978-0-948955-50-1
  5. ^ IL004 002 Spillers Choice Cuts Dog Food John Noakes Blue Peter on YouTube
  6. ^ "Blue Peter at 50". Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Blue peter appeals". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2016 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (24 May 2008). "Anne Robinson makes 'Blue Peter' star cry". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  • Shep from the Blue Peter website
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