- published: 21 Dec 2012
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Lesley Judd (born 20 December 1946) is an English dancer and TV presenter, best known as a long-serving host of the BBC children's programme Blue Peter.
Born in London, Judd was educated at the independent Royal Ballet School.
Judd appeared as part of the dance troupe the Young Generation on several TV shows, but walked out on the troupe in breach of her contract. When offered the role as a BBC presenter soon after, the BBC contracts department were furious that she was being hired by the corporation once again and insisted the contract was 'watertight'. She also had small roles in the first Monty Python film, And Now For Something Completely Different (1971) and the filmed musical Half A Sixpence (1967). Judd made a brief return to dancing in 1976 when she joined Pan's People on Top Of The Pops for a one-off routine (The rehearsals were later shown on Blue Peter) and often danced on the BBC Christmas show All Star Record Breakers.
Brought in to the show when Valerie Singleton began to diversify her television career in 1971, Judd initially presented with Singleton as well as John Noakes and Peter Purves, the partnership with Noakes and Purves lasting until 1978 and remaining the show's longest-running line-up. Judd's tenure on Blue Peter was often in doubt and she was retained for much of her seven years on the show on short term 3 month contracts. When her marriage broke down in 1975 and her ex-husband threatened to 'tell all' to the tabloid press, Sally James was lined up to replace Judd on Blue Peter. Eventually, the storm blew over and Judd remained with the show.