Richard Marson

[2][3] In September 2007, Marson was sacked from his post for making an editorial decision on the naming of the new Blue Peter cat, thus overriding the results of online vote on the programme in January 2006.

[6] Marson has directed and produced a number of documentaries, including Children's TV on Trial, Upstairs Downstairs Remembered,[7] and Tales of Television Centre (2012).

Marson was educated at Felsted School followed by Durham University, where he read for a degree in English, graduating in 1987.

He worked on many TV programmes, including Going Live!, Top of the Pops, and eventually Blue Peter.

According to former editor Biddy Baxter's book Dear Blue Peter (see page 283), Marson "had been so concerned about the accuracy of the online votes he made an editorial decision that the kitten (with its four white paws) should be named 'Socks' rather than 'Cookie'.

This work details Nathan-Turner's career, his difficulties with BBC superiors and alleges inappropriate behaviour by the producer.