Joel Nirmalan Defries (born 14 March 1985) is a British-born presenter, who worked on the BBC One children's programme Blue Peter from 2008 to 2010.

Born in Hammersmith, London,[1] Defries' New Zealand media career began at the alternative radio station Channel Z, before going on to host the music jukebox show Select Live.

He also made a successful move into radio where he presented a Sunday morning show for the Edge called Joel's Take Out.

In 2010, Joel learnt to fly a hang glider for Blue Peter with Airways Airsports instructor Judy Leden MBE with the aim of flying with Lucy a peregrine falcon[4] During 2009, Defries presented the 26 episodes of the CBBC programme Keep Your Enemies Close, a children's game show that tests friends by wrenching them apart and forcing them to work with their rivals instead.

This was explored by the BBC during a Blue Peter episode titled "Joel's Journey" broadcast on 27 January 2009.