The children’s TV legend has told how she was gave passengers of a passing hot air balloon an eyeful after stripping off on her balcony to catch some rays
Blue Peter legend Valerie Singleton has told how she was caught sunbathing topless – by passengers of a passing hot air balloon.
The kids TV star – who hosted the hit BBC show for a decade – was left red-faced after spotting the high-flying audience as she chilled on the sun-kissed balcony of her home.
Forgetting her state of undress, she stood up to wave at the folk enjoying the ride. It was only then she realised her boobs were on show. She dived for a towel and the flash remained a secret between Valerie and the balloon passengers for years.
Valerie told BBC Radio Solent she used to position plants around her so she could strip off and take in the sun at her home near Sherborne, Dorset, without fear of being spotted.
She said: “I was sitting on my balcony and I had window boxes all around so I could sunbathe topless without all my neighbours seeing me.
“Then suddenly, quite a long way off, I saw a hot air balloon. Quite without thinking I stood up and waved to it and then the hot air balloon turned to me and dipped its basket to me.
“I was a bit too late to reach a towel. They must have had binoculars because they were quite a long way off.”
Valerie, now 88, hosted Blue Peter from 1962 to 1972 and went on to present The Money Programme and BBC Radio 4 show PM.
She never wed but had a relationship with the late actor Albert Finney and an affair with married Blue Peter co-star Peter Purves.
Peter, who slept with Valerie while married, recently told The Telegraph: “I am not being shy, but I feel it is disrespectful to go into this. I loved the 60s, the world seemed to be a much freer place.
“It was a time of great music, peace, and fantastic clothes which went on into the 70s and 80s – and I had a great time. I would only apologise if I ever offended anyone, but I hope I didn’t.”
It has been almost 20 years since Valerie revealed their drunken fling.
She said: “It was one of those impulsive, enjoyable experiences – but more a friendship thing than anything else.
“Sleeping with people you work with is generally not advisable, so we didn’t want to pursue it. There was always an unspoken acknowledgement that something rather nice had happened.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
