1977: JOHN NOAKES scaling Nelson's Column is TERRIFYING | Blue Peter | Classic clips | BBC Archive
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- čas přidán 22. 02. 2022
- Beloved British children's television presenter John Noakes scales the iconic statue in Trafalgar Square for Blue Peter. That's a hair-raising climb of almost 170 feet - on a wobbly ladder, with no safety harness, and no helmet, wearing rather wide bottomed flares - all in order to see how they clean out the pigeon poo that accumulates in the statue.
Credit is also due to the extraordinarily brave cameraman Terry, and the team of steeplejacks who kept them both safe up there.
They did things differently in the 1970s.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME - or on Nelson's Column, for that matter... just don't try this anywhere, ever!
Originally broadcast 30 May 1977.
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I honestly don’t know what all the fuss is about. These men are clearly using standard 1970’s safety equipment, flared jeans, BRUT aftershave and 20 Benson and Hedges.
Brilliant
Couple of pints of Skol too!
😂😂😂
....and don't forget the platform shoes for extra safety.
He would also have had top of the range technology, a Seiko digital watch with a built in stopwatch to monitor his climbing speed.
Can we have a round of applause for the cameraman 👏
👏
They never die so obviously they're safe
@@flameguy3416Or we have never recovered the footage
The cameraman never dies...
Thank you! That was me 👋
I remember watching this as a kid and thinking nothing of it, now I’m petrified watching this. What a legend John noakes was.
I agree. Watched it (aged 7) without a second thought, just one of the many things the Blue Peter team did. Now......... I can't quite believe it. Really? no safety rope, ladder overhang, flared jeans. One slip and it's curtains.
Me too. How on EARTH was this allowed to be done without even a safety rope. Even in 1977 people understood gravity.
I remember that John Noakes had some harsh words after he left Blue Peter about how the Producers had scant regard for his safety. He clearly had a point.
Me too. I’m pooping myself 40 odd years later. I was about 7 when I watched this.
Where was Shep ? Noakes is a BBC legend from , Shelf , Halifax .
It's amazing how fearless you are as a kid. That said, I think even as a child I'd have been nervous watching this.
“you could easily lose your grip and fall”
spoken so cheerily
Shout out to the cameraman for standing up there and not even being able to hold on to anything.
Yea. Everyone is giving John credit but not a guy that also went up and is holding a darn heavy camera.
@@andyrob3259 Story was that there was a problem with the sound when John went onto the overhang so the camera (or sound) man needed him to go down and come up over again for a second take. John did it too!
@@graememorrison333 👍
The cameraman is always the first person I think of now
Like Ginger Rogers who said that she could do everything Fred Astaire could do, and backwards, so cameramen can do everything the star can do, and film it as well!
I am a safety manager and this is giving me heart palpitations!
If yo see someone without safety glasses , I'd say you get palpitations. 😂
Me too, mate... insane and for a kids programme!!
Coming from flat Lincolnshire,even an escalator sets me off!!!
It's okay, they signed their rams, got inducted, done their dabs, got the correct permits, signed off the safety inspection for the ladders/fixings, put the barriers out, wearing the correct ppe, got a rescue plan in place and listened to you justify your wages I think they'll be mustard up there.
@@seanmoran1056 yeah I was thinking that too🤣🤣
They probably had a few pints for lunch too and considered it normal. Should have gotten Fred Dibnah for the job.
I am in full respect of John Noakes. Is it me or were people more brave in past? To do that for children's television is just astounding. Noakesy definitely deserved an award for this. And his camera man . And the normal guy who did this type of thing every day for an income.
Nowadays you get arrested doing things like parkour, free-climbing, and urbexing.
@@andrewthorpe1333 yes its much better now
@@thesmithsmafno it is really not
@@thesmithsmafno it’s not. Everybody now is terrified of their own shadow
You know that there isn’t any significant genetic diversity between the people of the past and those of today. The generation before you said the same about your generation.
I was a telecom tower climber here in the U.S. and these guys are great.,,,,,no fall protection equipment.....it takes a lot of guts ....Respect !
He was safe enough, those flares would act as a parachute.
I always used to get mine stuck in my bike chain. 🤣😂
Some of the shirts back then you could have flapped the collars on to fly down slowly along with the flares lol.
Ha ha ha brilliant 👏 😄
That's funny!! 😁😁
The only person who ever really enjoyed nelson's column was winnie
One of the best moments in British TV history ever. Glad to have seen it 'live' when first broadcast. John Noakes was my hero. RIP.
The other was Lesley Judd transfering from a lighthouse to a boat via a rope! 🤣
John Noakes was/still is a national treasure. RIP great man.
Big brother or crazy uncle.
He jumped off to protest against jimmy Saville
Yes mine too, I remember it at the time.
I couldn't do it,
I don't like heights.
Unbelievable courage, in 1973 he held the record for the longest free fall parachute jump by a British Civilian.
This is terrifying! I work in the construction industry and am very pleased that the health and safety regulations are in place. Everyone deserves to be able to go home, or to the pub, after work. One mistake and it would be four hours with the undertaker, to quote Fred the steeple Jack. All the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺
Half a day out with the undertaker 😁
@@tophatanimation8748 unfortunately accidents still happen.
@@ajs41 not really. When I was young I noticed a lot of men with missing fingers, etc. Also, have a look at the statistics such as the number of men who died building the Sydney Harbour Bridge and other large structures. I have almost been killed on two occasions by cranes out of control when operators failed to think about their actions. On an adjacent site to the one I worked on three men were killed when a loading dock failed due to inadequate design. I could go on and on.
"half a day out with the undertaker"
@@Carlos.750 did Fred say hall a day out with the undertaker? Four hours or half a day, either one is not a good outcome!
John Noakes was a National Treasure. He barely showed any nerves; this was Children's TV in those days. Health and Safety, what Health and Safety would that be? A brave and very humble guy.
Today millions of childrens watching urban daredevils like Shiey, Bnt or Alain Robert or Jackass, those stunts are lot more dangerous
Met him at a book signing in Savacentre Washington, he was totally bloke-next-door and a top fella.
Biddy Baxter still treated him like crap, though.
The mighty john noakes, he had no equal. a prince among presenters, RIP
@@alan6 he said presenters...not men in general. Besides I'm sure the people who built the column would admire John for giving the climb a go.
@@alan6 that shut you up Al didn’t it
@@davidpowell9713 is 5 year old class out? Your not at school today?
Fred Dibnah
...and legendary! Would have a go at anything. Sadly missed.
Listening to his voice takes me back to tea time after school, the magic roundabout will be on next I think
I remember watching this at the time. It gave me nightmares. John Noakes was THE best presenter BP ever had. He did all the stuff no-one else could do. He was magnificent! RIP JOHN.
He also was very grateful in later life for all his adventures courteay of BP
Meanwhile in 2022 you need hi-vis to wash the floor in Tesco
Just about says it all about the pathetic society we have now. Weak and pathetic with no backbone whatsoever.
And a risk assessment. 🇬🇧👍🤣😂
With the only down side is people whining about it 🤣
Probably so people can see the person. Sounds like a good idea.
Not in india, bangladesh and more, no wonder, thousands died today in those countries:)
He’s walking up Nelson’s Column on the sort of ladder that your Dad keeps in his garage - without a harness. Massive balls
You have to be a special kind of person to climb something like that without panicking. He certainly is brave!
That overhang takes some bottle!
Special mention to the man who attached and secured the ladders in the first place!!!
Fred Dibnah territory
And the cameraman...🤣
All dead now. Rip
Special mention to the madlads who erected the damn thing in the first place.
Oh he had scaffolding.
John Noakes was a legend. No climbing harness just sheer bravery. This man deserved a knighthood.🇬🇧👍
No insurance cover by the BBC either as John only found out years later....
@MR MISTER I just watched one of Fred's videos, screw that 😬
Meanwhile the camera men actually holding a heavy piece of equipment don’t? Notice John wasn’t up there by himself
Yes I miss guys like this on television
@@Roscoe.P.Coldchain they don't allow positive and inspirational men on television anymore thanks to radical feminism and the woke crowd saying brave men who set good examples are toxic masculinity. I feel sorry for young boys being bombarded with it
John was an unpretentious , down to earth bloke who was up for any challenge no matter how risky . Being working class kids we liked Valerie and Peter but thought they were posh although these days we'd call them middle class. Noakes however was our favourite for he's have a go spirit which is why he always got the dangerous tasks . Happy days the '70's and much missed .
He was my favourite blue Peter presenter ,no one around like him anymore . One in a million 👍
The legendary John Noakes. RIP John.
It has to be said in the nicest and most respectful way.
"Get down, Shep!"
Wayaa shep :)
Never would they let this happen again with a presenter! He had some guts to do this climb, what a star.
Everyone knows Noakes had bollocks like grapefruits
Quite possibly the single greatest piece of TV ever. Simply incredible. Unbeleivable.
I love the way on the final push to the top he has this stringy bit of rope around his waist connected to nothing at all but optimism.
The guy was amazing. A total legend. I'm in my mid fifties now, but I still remember growing up watching Blue Peter.
Me too. Blue Peter was an amazing program
Me too do you think we could a meet up together and play games from the sixties together?
I watched this 'live' back in the day and thought 'wow'. Now I watch this and squirm. Also, I can no long look at the post office tower without 'seeing' a giant kitten on it.
Ecky thump!
John was unbelievably brave, one of the most courageous men I've seen take on a near impossible task
In my experience from sailing tall ships and climbing about the rigging, the truly difficult aspect is coming back down - especially on the inverted portion.
Massive respect to everyone involved!!!
I remember being traumatised as a kid watching this (but also being in utter awe at John Noakes' bravery). Nothing has changed 45 odd years on.
Along with Brian Cant John was a part of my childhood and nothing but wonderful memories. An all time great…
Back in the time when no one ever thought about health and safety. John is one of the bravest person on TV. Not to mention the camera man who was doing it filming
Back when lot more peoples died and no one cares, ok in India and bangladesh this is just a normal day today
Guess what?! The BBC wouldn’t cover them for insurance to go up there and they didn’t even know it. So the BBC cameraman and Noakes who were both BBC employees were shafted by their employer, not much has changed over 45 years eh?! 😂
You say that, but 1977 was 3 years after the Health and Safety at Work Act came in, so the BBC very much had a duty of care to John even back in the day. Mind you, Noel Edmonds production team never learned any lessons by the mid-80s...
@@Eleventhearlofmars The 1970s was more about BBC employees DOING the shafting. The younger the better...
Tramp’s coat, sensible shoes and flares. Legend.
8:33 just shows you how much of a nice guy John was he even credited the camera man, fair play.
I thought I was dealing with this until the last bit when he went to the very top for no good reason! I will now go and get some counselling as that has tipped me over the edge. Strangely had no effect when I first saw this many years ago! The innocence of youth.
Hilarious.
I was an apprentice joiner in the 80’s it scared me , I’m glad things have improved as a lot of men died , This is incredible by John noakes and the cameraman ! Amazing!
I remember seeing this when it was originally shown and being gobsmacked and terrified in equal measures (especially by that final part of the ascent where the ladder leans outwards to get over that Corinthian capital, just thinking about what that must have been like makes me feel giddy!). How many children's presenters could do what he did and remain so amiable and calm about it all?! What a legend John Noakes was!!
Respect to the blokes who do this for a job and the cameraman too, they all must have balls of steel!!!
Apparently he had to do this twice as the first time the camera wasn’t working properly and didn’t record anything. Never get me up there, absolutely terrifying.
One word for John Noakes ‘ Legend’
Dear John Noakes was such a very brave but a very humbling guy who brought much pleasure to the nation when I was a kid
The best Blue Peter presenter ever, by a long way.
He definitely earned his badge , Shep wasn’t keen to go up though !
I see everyone commenting about John, but what's really interesting is how the cameraman Terry is climbing right with them, plus all these angles, plus hauling a later 70s video recorder that's probably 20lbs
Exactly, I’d like to know how they got the shots of John under the overhang.
@@BobK5 Probably zoom lens from a building or a crane.
@@misterbonzoid5623 thank you, yes I think you’re right, it can only be something like that.
I imagine he probably hauled the video equipment up with a rope once he had finished his ascent.
@@BobK5 in a chair next to them and they lowered the camera down to him to film.
To scale up nelson's column wearing those flares was a remarkable achievement
Yes, advertising those flares was risky and very brave, when really the correct attire should have been Bell Bottoms, a Blue Peter wardrobe faux pas.
Surely someone would have said, "High place, strong wind, DON'T WEAR FLARES!"
John Noakes was a cracking fella. Growing up with him on the TV in the 70s we were entertained by him everytime he was on the box. He was Mr Blue Peter and always will be, God bless him.
John Noakes was the embodiment of adventure and inspiration; what a wondrous view of Trafalgar Square. 🇬🇧
I remember watching this when it first aired, but I didn't appreciate the danger at the time. However, since John did daredevil challenges all the time, you would expect him to do this. It's just amazing to watch it again after over 40 years. I'm just amazed at the bravery of those guys, not only John and Terry, the cameraman, but also the guys whose job it was to clean Nelson's Column.
Un bell eev a bull... Wouldn't have seen me doing that 🥶🥶☮️😱✌️
I was 1 year old 👶 lol
I’m watching this panicking, feeling dread, worrying any minute John could fall. But forgetting he survived!
Weird. Great presenter and I do remember watching this at the time.
Yeah he makes it somehow
"Brave" That's an understatement! No amount of money in the world would be enough to pay me to climb Nelson's Column like these dudes did!
I’ve spent a fair bit of time at the top of triple ladders and have a very healthy respect for hights. I actually remember watching this as a kid too.
Seriously watching this now makes my legs go funny. This is insane, for anyone who’s never done ladder work it is incomprehensible just how insanely scary this is.
This is truly madness, JK was a legend and an extraordinarily fearless guy, he certainly didn’t have a fear of heights.
That overhang is terrifying!
The top ladder part jesus christ
I climbed a ladder recently to hang a Halloween decoration from an overhead pipe. Three steps up, and then i had to sign a form! Crazy.
Thing is, at that height, who will see from the ground its dirty?
One of my favourite TV clips of all time I can still remember as a child being transfixed and terrified watching this
Thanks for uploading
I remember it aswell john noakes did some incredible stunts free fall parachuting ect , this was when the bbc was held in high esteem, even though savile and hall were later exposed for their antics.The actually broadcasting content was superb back in the day!
I remember watching this as a kid. It was terrifying for a child to watch, but I guess it made us stronger and fearless like John.
@@myalfie I stopped watching and listening to the clowns 15 years ago.
@@kittyroo9294 I'll proudly state it, John was a better man than me.
I remember it too. I always assumed he had a safety harness to clip on though. Now I am traumatised.I can scarcely believe that no one thought it would be a good idea not to risk killing a beloved TV presenter.
I remember watching this as a kid with no sense of fear at all. It's a different story as an adult. My legs were at their wobbliest at John on the overhanging ladders.
For a non steeple jack to do this is highly impressive
I have sweaty palms watching this! And my heart is racing!
As a rock climber I find that incredibly brave. I've soloed routes well within my limits but I'd have to be roped up and used protection on that ascent. Even if it is on a ladder, you can still get tired and slip.Maximum respect to John.
The knots they're using ... so poor ... really scary stuff!
As a climber myself, I bloody hate climbing ladders.
I can relate [though never soloed unless you include bouldering] but my god I’m getting sweaty palm watching this
@@simoncelt5590 have you seen any of Fred Dibnah's videos? Steeplejacks are a different breed!
and using hemp ropes
I remember seeing a clip of this before but never realised he climbed it without a safety line. Seems crazy now.
Totally insane. Especially the overhang.
I blame Dibnah!
But that's just it! Climbing 200ft with an overhang while wearing some flares and an M65 jacket and with no harness, didn't bat any eyelids in 1980. It's just wot men did.
@@slaterslater5944 that overhang alone would give me nightmares !! 🫣
@@graememorrison333 deaths at work were much more common
I met Lesley Judd in France a few years ago… great fun and very happy to meet a fan!
I remember watching this when it came out. As mentioned by others, I think as kids we really were slightly immune to how tough this little Yorkshireman was (And the crew.) I remember the ladder climbing, but what strikes me now is how he gets training in using the Bosun's Chair (AKA An Old Rope Attached To A Dangling Plank Of Wood) at 150ft, just before using it. "Don't slacken it off too much, OK?", "Once you mastered it. you're alright" 😱
96 likes ?!? I would give this a million if I could. John Noakes, what an all time hero !!!!
It’s only been up 12 hours ✋😂
@@Cypher791
It's been up since 1843.
It should be zero likes for the BBC....BOYCOTT THEM
Yeah but it's the BBC
@@Boilingfrogg Yes, before it went WOKE.
I remember watching this when it was first shown, bringing back many wonderful memories of Blue Peter. I was terrified of heights then, and I am still terrified of heights now. God knows how he did it, RIP John Noakes and Shep. Thank you for posting
I remember watching this as an 11yr old & i was terrified then. Watching it now in my 50s & i'm still terrified just watching it. Incredibly brave guys.
I'm happy the camera man got a shout out at the end. That guy did amazing being up there not holding on to anything, obviously he had a harness on, but it's not the same feeling of security if you haven't got a hold of anything.
I was lucky enough to grow up watching the likes of John Noakes and Johnny Ball, truly great TV presenters that inspired a generation of hope.
My arse was twitching like a rabbit's nose just watching this. Respect to John (and not forgetting Terry) for doing this.
I remember it like it was yesterday Blue Peter made me. RIP John. You were a heroic big bro. No safety harness, and the kit and clothing hadn’t changed in a hundred years!😮
I feel tremblish just watching!
Noakey was a true star.
The Cameraman and Steeplejack were pretty epic too.
Noakes grew to resent the crazy risks he was asked to take during his time on the show and i don't blame him.
First of all, don't forget Terry, the cameraman who climbed it too 👏👏
I remember watching this as a kid with no sense of fear at all. It's a different story as an adult. My legs were at their wobbliest when John on the overhanging ladders.
John was an absolute hero.
I remember watching this at the time. Even now, my palms are sweating and I'm used to working on ships masts! What a guy!
Strapping ladders to this to enable cleaning by anyone, who is or isn't John Noakes, is absolute madness.
So much admiration should go to John Noakes for what he did. For Blue Peter viewers of my generation, he was like an amusing uncle who did really brave and dangerous things that health and safety would never allow these days.
Remember watching this as a kid. This was terrifying and John so brave and was a legend. Imagine how big and successful he would be today. Just incredible.
In Britain today? impossible .......... he's not the right colour.
I remember John on Blue Peter with sticky back plastic and his dog Shep.
He was an integral part of my childhood.
I don't remember this though...
Respect increased by 100000%
RIP and God bless you!
What an amazing man,so fearless and nothing seemed to phase him,unique there will never be another john noakes,as a young school boy in the 1960s,i have so many memories of him on blue peter ,god bless you ,rip,irrepaceable ,❤
My boyhood hero and well into my teens too, if I be totally honest. He was a seemingly ordinary bloke, whom captured millions' of childrens imagination with his infectious character and preparedness to have a go at just about everything. Inspiring and courageous as well as imbued with a great sense of humour. I fondly recall the episode where the baby elephant is in the studio and evacuates all over the floor- live TV at its best, and then takes its keeper on what appeared to be an impromptu skying trip- meanwhile, Johnny is seen in the background in hysterics- priceless.
I watched this when it was originally aired and even now it scares me silly even though I know nothing went wrong. John Noakes was the best kids TV presenter ever! And Kudos to the cameraman, Terry, he did it holding camera equipment
I remember working on one of these Bosun's chairs, as they called them, in the 1960s during my time in the merchant navy; very scary because you relied on the slip knot you had made, one false move and down you went! After he retired, John discovered he was never insured for all the perilous stunts he did. H&S was non existent in those days so it was no wonder John was incandescent with anger at the BBC producers' failure to insure him when he found out! RIP John. The BBC are still as arrogant and uncaring in 2023!
But BBC management always makes sure they get paid.
Go with Noakes! What a hero. Watched this as a kid on TV. Loved those 3 presenters. Epic: climbing a ladder at that height which is slopinh outwards with no ropes!
I can't believe they let John climb without a safety harness, he was a brave man. Health and safety were not part of the plan.
Back in them days, we just threw caution to the wind, bring back unnecessary harm I say!
No harness, no hard hat 🤷♂️
Tied on with a bit of string, would have cut him in half he'd fallen !
you should check out the Fred Dibnah videos that are posted, yikes. as they say "an honorable profession" to be sure.
Quite right too.
@@willmitchell255 a high vis vest would save him if he fell.
John was incredibly courageous to ascend the ladder. 99% of people, including me, wouldn’t have entertained the idea.
I think you'd be lucky to find one in a hundred people could do as well as Noaksie and that unsung hero of a cameraman.
I wouldn't have made it up the plinth.
I inspect sewers as a job, some ladders are 50m down. We enter with life saving winches and tripods and it is still nerve racking and exhausting. Balls of steel these men
I wouldn't do it for all the gold in fort Knox
I think sitting on the plank suspended with some rope over the drop that got me.
The mighty John Noakes. Complete Legend!
How the hell do you climb a ladder with balls that massive!! What a a legend of a man .
Fred Dibnah style.
Balls of steel.
Climbing that overhang having just scaled 100’ must have been tough. No safety rope, no arresting gear; just a ladder, a boatswain’s chair, and some clove hitches. Very impressive. Top camera work, too.
Unbelievable. Even the bit where he has a rest is scary, and the top part where the ladder is bent back is horrific. I'm looking at af something that would terrify and probably kill me. It's unsettling.
Great man.
Great dog.
Great programme
Great memories.
Thanks 😊
No harness, Hush Puppies and bell bottoms? I am truly amazed!
This footage still triggers my vertigo so many years after seeing it broadcast for the first time as a child in 1977.
I watched this a kid and it was a difficult watch - 45 years odd later and it doesn't get any easier. You have to respect him and the cameraman for doing it but to echo others it was sheer madness to put your life on the line for a bit of telly.
I actually remember the day this was televised.
Noaksy was fearless it would appear the camera man Terry was also fearless ,
Used to love watching go with Noaks
As someone who is petrified of heights this fills me with horror!!
I remember this and the time he went down the Cresta Run in a bobsleigh only for it to flip over. He just got out shook himself off and carried on. Top man
Yeah and he showed that massive bruise all over his arse and leg live on Blue Peter. I remember that too.
No harness of any kind plus an overhang! Kudos to Mr.Noakes for that.
You'd think Reg would have taught him how to use a bosun's chair before he was 180 feet up Nelson's column 🤣
Exactly what I was thinking 🤔 🤣🤣
I thought the same. What a time to give basic training in lowering the chair.
Llf yes
Geez I remember watching this when I was a child. Thank you so much for the upload 👍This gives me vertigo just watching it! Bravery beyond belief
Great respect to John , he brought a breath of fresh air to Blue Peter . Not your usual BBC presenter....thank god...
I was 8 when I watched this, this is the one thing on Blue Peter that stayed in my memory of the show, I imagine there would be scaffolding around this today, not a ladder held with rope.
Amazed how the one guy who works on it is not only able to do such a terrifying job, but casually holds a lit cigarette in one hand as he does his job perched on a board 100+ feet in the air.