Richard Bacon to return to Blue Peter

ichard Bacon will return to \'Blue Peter\' today (16.10.18) - 20 years after he was sacked for taking cocaine.

The 42-year-old TV presenter became the first host to ever be axed from the children\'s programme in 1998 after he admitted to taking the Class A drug, but he will be back on the series today in a special episode to celebrate the show\'s 60th birthday.

He wrote on Twitter: "on Tuesday, in a day they (and I) said would never come, I\'ll be back on Blue Peter. (sic)"

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Richard - who spent 11 nights in a medically-induced coma whilst battling a killer lung infection in July - co-hosted the show for 18 months until he was axed, and has now admitted the programme was the job he has held the "most affection" for.

He tweeted: "I can never hold down a job for long. I\'ve hosted a lot of shows in a lot of places. And yet the one I have the most affection for is the one I got fired from. Happy Birthday Blue Peter. I love you. (sic)"

\'Blue Peter\' is the longest-running children\'s TV programme in the world after airing for continuous seasons since it was first broadcast in 1958.

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Several former presenters have paid tribute to the show on its 60th birthday today, including Katy Hill, who is "forever grateful" to the long-running programme.

She tweeted: "HAPPY 60 BLUE PETER! 24 years ago, I landed the best job on the planet! 6 years of incredible adventures, extreme challenges and drawing attention to the things that mattered became a life-changing experience and I\'ll be forever grateful for it! #BluePeter60 #BluePeter (sic)"

Peter Duncan - who co-hosted the show for two stints in the 1980s - wrote: "what a laugh it was in the 80\'s with @RealSarahGreene @missjanetellis #CBBC #BluePeter60 (sic)"