Paul Awarded Gold Blue Peter Badge

Paul has sold over 700 million albums around the world as a solo artist with his band Wings and as a member of the legendary group, The Beatles but declared to Blue Peter that he’s ‘made it’ when the show presented him with a prestigious Gold Blue Peter Badge recently.

When Blue Peter presenter, Lindsey, asks him what advice he would give to young people who aspire to become musicians and songwriters, Paul replied: “The only advice really is to do it… a lot.  I have a song writing class and the first thing I say to them is ‘look I don’t really know how to do this’ and at first they kind of look at me, but when you think about it there is no formula. I know how to write one of my songs but I can’t say ‘you do it that way’, because it’s a very personal thing. So the advice really is to just do whatever it is you’re doing… a lot!”

Paul - the most successful musician and composer in pop history - was awarded the coveted badge for inspiring generations of people with his music just ahead of performing to a sold-out crowd at The O2 arena in London on his Freshen Up tour.

A delighted Paul said: “That is beautiful, that’s a great badge. I will wear it with great pride. Yes! I made it!”

The Gold Blue Peter Badge is the programme’s highest award, only a handful of which are presented each year to individuals who show great expertise in their chosen field, are considered to be role models, and who encourage and motivate children across many generations.

Editor of Blue Peter, Ewan Vinnicombe, said: “Sir Paul McCartney has inspired generations of Blue Peter viewers to love music and be creative – a core value of Blue Peter. I’m thrilled that we have been able to honour the legend that is Sir Paul with our highest accolade - a Gold badge.”

Paul joins a select group of people to have received a Gold Blue Peter Badge which also includes The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling, Steven Spielberg, Mary Berry,  David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Madonna. Sir Peter Jackson, who is directing a new Beatles documentary about the making of their final studio album, Let It Be, also received a Gold Blue Peter Badge last year.

In October 2018 Blue Peter celebrated its milestone 60th birthday which kicked off with the launch of the Gold Badge Walk - a path to honour some of the well-known names who have received the special accolade - at MediaCityUK, in Salford. The path celebrates some of the most successful people in sport, literature, music and other industries to receive the prestigious honour.