Inside Blue Peter star's life 20 years after he left iconic BBC show

Two decades after his Blue Peter days, former presenter Stuart Miles looks completely different. Renowned for his role on the beloved children's programme, Stuart departed whilst taking a dig at Blue Peter, arguing it had become disconnected from its young BBC audience.

His departure came hot on the heels of his mate and co-presenter Richard Bacon's dismissal over cocaine use. Stuart argued that the traditional craft segments and pet features no longer captured children's attention.

"With the year 2000 nearly here we've got to make Blue Peter more relevant to modern-thinking children," Stuart announced, demanding changes to revitalise the programme's appeal. "Less twee, more hard-hitting. I know it's like a comfort blanket for a lot of people, a programme that will never shock or offend you, but we err on the side of caution."

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At just 27, Stuart had become Blue Peter's longest-serving presenter, making his exit a major setback for the BBC, which was already grappling with the fallout from Richard's sacking and subsequent replacement.

It has been 26 years since leaving Blue Peter behind and Stuart's professional journey has remained active. He has taken on numerous prominent roles throughout television, both presenting and working behind the scenes, reports the Manchester Evening News.

He's been a guest presenter on hit shows like This Morning and Holiday, and even had a stint presenting on Sky Vegas, the interactive gambling TV channel.

He also joined forces with fellow Blue Peter legend Katy Hill to host a breakfast show on Heart radio.

In 2008, Stuart debuted his drag act, The Adventures of Pink Peter, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, taking on the persona of Vera Singleton, the fictional sister of former Blue Peter host Valerie Singleton.

Reflecting on his Blue Peter tenure a decade later, Stuart expressed regret for not being open about his sexuality during his time on the programme. In an honest chat with Metro, he admitted: "I only have one regret and that is I spent a lot of my time on the show feeling conflicted about my sexuality."

He admitted his concerns over potential negative reactions from the media and parents if he disclosed that he was gay.

Stuart pointed out: "This may seem daft to someone growing up gay in 2018 but it's easy to forget how, as little as 20 years ago, we were in a very different place."

Now at 56, Stuart has undergone quite the transformation since his Blue Peter days and has embarked on a new chapter as a professional speaker with Great British Speakers.

Blue Peter itself has seen major changes recently, moving from live shows to pre-recorded episodes. Last year saw former hosts Anthea Turner and Janet Ellis spearhead a campaign to save the iconic show when it faced outsourcing.