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.
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.
@@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!
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!
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 🇦🇺
@@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.
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.
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.
I agree 100%. He was the real daredevil of the show. Down to earth and willing to try anything. It was quite unusual to hear a regional accent on national television in those days too.
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.
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.
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.
@@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
@@280StJohnsPl there are more than 200 tower climbers who died between 2000 and today in the USA but in another countries like india, they have almost 50.000 deaths by accidents during working per year
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 .
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
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.
1977: JOHN NOAKES scaling Nelson's Column is TERRIFYING | Blue Peter | Classic clips | BBC Archive 20.11.24 0759am nawwwwwww... i'd be frozen 20 ft up... i aint a man for heights.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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!!!
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.
Great idea to get a briefing how to do the abseiling when he was at the top. This makes sure that he is a quick learner. This was children television? What did they present to adults? How to meet and greet the apocalyptic riders?
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.
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
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...
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’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!
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.
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 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 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!
I remember watching this as a kid. When you look back now you really do appreciate that he had some nerves of steel. You'd never get away with that these days. No PPE, no harnesses...
I know there’s a lot of talk today about ‘Health and Safety gone mad’, some of which I would agree with, but scaling most of Nelsons Column with no harness is insanity.
I have vague memories of watching this at the time. You have to be in that time to try and make sense of how this could be allowed to happen. It was seen as crazy then, but that that was the nature of a dangerous job. But whatever, it’s impossible to understate the courage of John and the cameraman in actually seeing this through. If there was a £1 million cheque at the top I don’t think I’d manage it.
Many years ago I was walking with a friend in Mallorca. We met an elderly man and stared chatting to him. Only after we parted did my friend point out that it was John Noakes. I was annoyed with myself for not having recognised him given that I was brought up on his Blue Peter exploits.
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.
The guy was a legend. No harness. No safety gear. It makes me sweat just watching it. One slip and it's goodbye John. Bravery doesn't come close, and that overhang at the top - WOW!! all credit too to the cameraman who was at the top filming. it would take a lot of money to do what they did - I'm not sure if ANY amount would be enough.
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" 😱
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!😮
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 ,❤
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.
"...you could easily lose your grip and fall." Yes, to your death. That's a fantastic bit of TV. The overhanging ladder climb.. Guts. I would love to see any of these children's TV presenters nowadays do something this daring.
What a fantastic piece of archive footage. As brave as he was and the other men doing this, safety mechanisms these days are so much better. Nonetheless, whether tied on or not, its still a very long way up...and down! Subscribed.
I remember seeing this at the time. It’s only now, as an adult I appreciate how bloody scary thus really was! On a side note, I met Peter Purves, got to ask him about John (before his death) and PP said it was very sad, John didn’t know if he was on this Earth or fullers. Anyway, end of the meeting and PP tried to shake hands. I said “sod that, you were all a massive part of my childhood and much more than some family. Come here and let me give you a hug”
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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.
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.
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 👋
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.
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!
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!
“you could easily lose your grip and fall”
spoken so cheerily
Nothen got by old john
Not if your life depends upon it, You hang on tight
@@print-master If you climb a ladder, the danger isnt that big
Yeah, but do a commentary as well while you're at it. Ah, another BBC entirely.
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.
@@borntoclimb7116 They are watching Jackass
@@borntoclimb7116Yes, of course, but presumably John paved the way for those guys
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
I agree 100%. He was the real daredevil of the show. Down to earth and willing to try anything. It was quite unusual to hear a regional accent on national television in those days too.
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.
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.
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
The legendary John Noakes. RIP John.
It has to be said in the nicest and most respectful way.
"Get down, Shep!"
Wayaa shep :)
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 !
@@280StJohnsPl there are more than 200 tower climbers who died between 2000 and today in the USA but in another countries like india, they have almost 50.000 deaths by accidents during working per year
@@borntoclimb7116 Wow !
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.
Along with Brian Cant John was a part of my childhood and nothing but wonderful memories. An all time great…
Ahhhhh - Brian Cant!
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 .
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?
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
Cameraman with that great big lump of a camera needs just as much praise
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.
@@paarker yes probably, good work though
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
He was my favourite blue Peter presenter ,no one around like him anymore . One in a million 👍
1977: JOHN NOAKES scaling Nelson's Column is TERRIFYING | Blue Peter | Classic clips | BBC Archive 20.11.24 0759am nawwwwwww... i'd be frozen 20 ft up... i aint a man for heights.
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
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
Unbelievable courage, in 1973 he held the record for the longest free fall parachute jump by a British Civilian.
John was in the SBS. He'd done it before.
He’s walking up Nelson’s Column on the sort of ladder that your Dad keeps in his garage - without a harness. Massive balls
My balls have just gone in....😂😂😂
Massive applause to the builders of this monument...simply amazing
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.
Fearless, understated and with a sense of humour. What could be more inspiring?
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.
8:33 just shows you how much of a nice guy John was he even credited the camera man, fair play.
Listening to his voice takes me back to tea time after school, the magic roundabout will be on next I think
Jackanory??
@@peternagy-im4be think it was either Ivor The Engine or Rhubarb And Custard
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.
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.
You have to be a special kind of person to climb something like that without panicking. He certainly is brave!
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!
One word for John Noakes ‘ Legend’
Quite possibly the single greatest piece of TV ever. Simply incredible. Unbeleivable.
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.
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:)
John was unbelievably brave, one of the most courageous men I've seen take on a near impossible task
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
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!
@@myalfie I stopped watching and listening to the clowns 15 years ago.
@kitty roo 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.
@@myalfie Yeah the BBC was good back in the day now its all woke/radical feminist indoctrination and propaganda
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
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
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
The best Blue Peter presenter ever, by a long way.
He definitely earned his badge , Shep wasn’t keen to go up though !
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.
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
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 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.
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.
John Noakes was the embodiment of adventure and inspiration; what a wondrous view of Trafalgar Square. 🇬🇧
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.
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 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!!!
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.
Noakes grew to resent the crazy risks he was asked to take during his time on the show and i don't blame him.
Great idea to get a briefing how to do the abseiling when he was at the top. This makes sure that he is a quick learner. This was children television? What did they present to adults? How to meet and greet the apocalyptic riders?
My arse was twitching like a rabbit's nose just watching this. Respect to John (and not forgetting Terry) for doing this.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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?
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.
What a man! my knees were knocking just watching, he was a joy to watch, game for anything.
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!
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
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.
That overhang takes some bottle!
God bless you John....AND the cameraman and soundman who went with you !
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!"
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.
Good old John Noakes; 1970’s health and safety! Truly a great presenter; inspiring millions of children to be adventurous and brave. Total legend.
He was my favourite as a kid back in the seventies.
I remember watching this as a kid. When you look back now you really do appreciate that he had some nerves of steel.
You'd never get away with that these days. No PPE, no harnesses...
Tramp’s coat, sensible shoes and flares. Legend.
I know there’s a lot of talk today about ‘Health and Safety gone mad’, some of which I would agree with, but scaling most of Nelsons Column with no harness is insanity.
John Noakes could be childlike but not childish. Today’s presenters on children’s television seem to be the reverse.
"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 have vague memories of watching this at the time. You have to be in that time to try and make sense of how this could be allowed to happen. It was seen as crazy then, but that that was the nature of a dangerous job. But whatever, it’s impossible to understate the courage of John and the cameraman in actually seeing this through. If there was a £1 million cheque at the top I don’t think I’d manage it.
Many years ago I was walking with a friend in Mallorca. We met an elderly man and stared chatting to him. Only after we parted did my friend point out that it was John Noakes. I was annoyed with myself for not having recognised him given that I was brought up on his Blue Peter exploits.
He lived on the lsland l believe, houseboat l think.John went missing and was found dead in a roadside ditch. Very sad
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.
Legend. Good old John. Part of my youth. Rest in Peace.
The guy was a legend. No harness. No safety gear. It makes me sweat just watching it. One slip and it's goodbye John. Bravery doesn't come close, and that overhang at the top - WOW!! all credit too to the cameraman who was at the top filming. it would take a lot of money to do what they did - I'm not sure if ANY amount would be enough.
No safety gear? Except for the rope FFS
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" 😱
This footage still triggers my vertigo so many years after seeing it broadcast for the first time as a child in 1977.
John noakes. What a legend. Even Fred Dibnah would have been proud.
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!😮
As someone who is petrified of heights this fills me with horror!!
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
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 ,❤
John noakes..a man from the fred dibnah school of "propper men had balls now man up and get on with it"
Exactly. Compared to today's spineless wimps. Utterly pathetic world now.
@@peternagy-im4be Guy Martin? Colin Furze? Look up 'Dirtquake' motorbike race...hilarious.
Still plenty of these characters about these days.
@Macavity is mummy tucking you in tonight?
This man, and his crew, had balls of steel. Nice M1965 jacket.
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.
"...you could easily lose your grip and fall." Yes, to your death. That's a fantastic bit of TV. The overhanging ladder climb.. Guts. I would love to see any of these children's TV presenters nowadays do something this daring.
They'd need their eyebrows shaped first.
They'd be running to their safe space crying
Why would anyone climb up there without a harness? What would be the benefit? The teaching lesson for the kids? Anyone.
This sort of behaviour is illegal now because it doesn't always go well.
@@festo8885 you sounds so big and brave.
What a fantastic piece of archive footage. As brave as he was and the other men doing this, safety mechanisms these days are so much better. Nonetheless, whether tied on or not, its still a very long way up...and down!
Subscribed.
For a non steeple jack to do this is highly impressive
I remember seeing this at the time. It’s only now, as an adult I appreciate how bloody scary thus really was!
On a side note, I met Peter Purves, got to ask him about John (before his death) and PP said it was very sad, John didn’t know if he was on this Earth or fullers. Anyway, end of the meeting and PP tried to shake hands. I said “sod that, you were all a massive part of my childhood and much more than some family. Come here and let me give you a hug”
and then he maced you
@@williamdiffin28 that’s bollocks there’s no way Purves would carry mace around he was a well loved children’s tv star not a violent criminal
@@davidpowell9713 Your joke recognition abilities needs a top-up. Besides, using mace is normally the other way around.
Only in TH-cam comments section can we be taken from heartfelt comments/memories to pure comedy so perfectly :)
Well Said Julie. Home from school, afternoon tea and Blue Peter, Magic.