The Queen has asked young Blue Peter viewers to design the official logo for her diamond jubilee in 2012.  It’s a canny way of engaging with today’s young people who may not have strong royalist views. And it made me think of my husband’s Blue Peter moment which nearly ended in disaster.

Perhaps Her Majesty is keen to be presented with her own highly coveted Blue Peter badge, if she doesn’t already have one, like my other half. He is a proud owner after being asked to care for Blue Peter’s famous feline Jason, a high spirited Siamese which was booked to open a garden fete in Ely. My father-in-law was asked by the organisers to collect Jason from his London home and duly returned with him.

Stephen, a very excited eight-year-old, was given the task of taking Jason for a walk on a lead, and they both set off down the road. However, Jason, it seemed, had ideas of his own and soon slipped his collar and ran off.  Red-faced Stephen ran home in tears and shamefaced. How could he tell the world that he had lost the UK’s most beloved cat! Most surprising of all, Jason had hissed at him fiercely and was not at all as friendly as he appeared on the show!

Stephen’s moment of shame was thankfully short-lived as an anxious search party soon located Jason hiding under a car – and instantly retrieved him so he could enjoy his moment of glory at the garden fete. All went well – and Stephen was given a Blue Peter badge which he cherishes today. Looking at Jason in this pic, he appears startled, and not the cuddliest of cats. Am I alone in thinking that Siamese cats do not appear to be as popular as they once used to be?

I have fond memories of Blue Peter, and I’m glad that it is still a part of young people’s lives today. And what a lot of celebrations we have to look forward to in 2012, with the London Olympics being held then as well. I look forward to seeing the winning jubilee logo too. However, I doubt it will feature Blue Peter’s highly-strung Jason – or any of their pets.