One social message too far...
For those b3tans not of these shores, the BBC television programme Blue Peter is an institution. Generations of British kids have been kept busy building models made out of washing up liquid bottles, cotton reels and paper cups or have been dutifully collecting old stamps and toys for various charities at the prompting of this experiment in teeny television socialism.

The programme also had a great line in wholesome, milfy presenters too (think Janet "much more shaggable than her daughter" Ellis) but I digress.

Pre-teen viewers were requested to put their immature prejudices aside as the subject matter would appeal to our "better" judgements. By and large it worked, social stigmas such as poverty and homelessness were addressed by this groundbreaking programme. However, by 1982 one social barrier remained.

"Mmmmmmmmnnnnnng, mmmmmmmnnnnnmmmmmf!" spluttered the poor, unfortunate man on the television. Nothing less than sympathy was expected from the hordes of eight year olds gathered round TV screens across the nation. The subject matter of course, was learning difficulties and the battle of one Joey Deacon to make himself understood to the world via the medium of his slightly less flaky mate Ernie.

"Joey would like to thank you for all your support" translated Ernie.

The very next day it was obvious that the message got through loud and clear.

Overnight "Mmmmmmnnnnngggg! Deacon!" became the standard playground response to any kind of suspected mongyness. We weren't alone, across the country millions of cruel children belmed "Mmmmmnnnnnnmmmmmfffff! Joey!" at their less than fortunate peers. Anyone caught withso much as a vacant expression was insulted in this fashion. The slightly more learned comrades of the class mong were rewarded with the chant of "Mmmmmnnnnggg! Ernie!". A future b3ta legend was born.

Never have high hopes of appealing to children's better nature been so badly misjudged.

What of Joey Deacon himself? Some say that fame became too much for him, for he sadly passed away soon after. In no small part I blame Ernie. If ever there was a man hanging onto someone else's coat-tails of fame it was him.

Here's to you Joey and Ernie, to an eight year old, you were the most hilarious double act ever.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:30, 13 replies)

British society evolved a little that day...

I too could not wait to sprint into class the next morning and belm as if my life depended on it.

(as there is now photographic evidence)

Thank you for reminding me of this crucial moment in my life...and in the spirit of Blue Peter, may I attach this 'click' with double-sided sticky tape
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:38, closed)

Ahh,
remember it well. Felt sorry for the poor fucker at my school named Joey - life was never quite the same for him again...
( SpankyHanky, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:43, closed)

Yeah...
The mouthiest in my class was a chap called Mark Deacon.

I like to think some good came out of the BBC's folly.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:43, closed)

I remember when Blue Peter was on
sitting infront of the tv, laughing and pointing. Not PC, I know, but I was only little and the damn spectacle had me in stitches. My mum clouted me round the ear, but I still couldn't stop laughing... just sort of sat there whimpering with tears of laughter streaming down my face. Maybe I was just an evil little bastard?
( SpankyHanky, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:47, closed)

i was a bit too young for this
and hated "blue peter" as a kid, so wouldn't have seen it anyway. so the first time i got called a joey, when i was a trainee lawyer (in the employment department, ironically enough), i had to wikipedia him. Unimpressed.

i always wondered, though... did joey deacon ever know the effect that the tv programme had, or did he carry on in blissful ignorance?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:55, closed)

You'd have to ask Ernie
I'm of the opinion that poor Joey was trying to say "Fuck off with your TV cameras you bastards, I'm trying to watch Countdown!". Meanwhile his glory seeking mate was translating that as "Joey is pleased that his disability is being used to educate children across the country".
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 4 Feb 2009, 16:58, closed)

I always fucking hated blue peter
it was shit and patronising.

and I'm sure the first time I heard someone being called a Joey it was my older brother doing the calling and it was around the time I joined b3ta...
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 17:17, closed)

*raises glass*
Similarly, wept with hilarity and could. not. wait. for the next day at school.

For a time, the disappointment that it was Blue Peter on telly and not Crackerjack was reversed.

Remember the time he flipped his shoe off into the sea? Remember 'Joey wants a biscuit'?

I fucking do.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 17:03, closed)

Stuff like this
and the 16K song on the site, really date one...but the world did seem like a better place then. Fuck it, if I carry on like this I'll starting buying the Mail and it would be kinder to kill myself...

CLICK for bringing the memories back...
( I_Was_Mordred, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 18:06, closed)

The next generation
A friend's a teacher. In her class is a child called Joey.

One day I said to her: "Joey, that's quite an unusual name for someone of our generation to give a child, isn't it."

She confessed that she'd been dying to say that to someone for ages but couldn't mention that in these PC times. Every class she has to look at this kid and say his name while her head is filled with vintage scenes from Blue Peter.
( calgacus Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 18:43, closed)

Ah yes
I remember it well. Have some clicky-backed plastic.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Wed 4 Feb 2009, 18:54, closed)

don't you mean...
clicky backed spastic?
(Papa Chocolat, Thu 5 Feb 2009, 1:20, closed)

*clicks on reply*
Genius.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 5 Feb 2009, 9:22, closed)