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)"

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.

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)"