POPULAR children's programme Blue Peter has unveilied the 30th presenter in its 46-year history - former Miss Northern Ireland beauty contest winner Zoe Salmon.

Zoe, 24, from Bangor, is to become the first new member of the team in four years. Producers fielded hundreds of applications for the coveted job on the much-loved BBC1 show. It will be the latest addition to a famous cast of faces who have fronted Blue Peter since it was first launched in 1958.

They include 1960s legends Valerie Singleton, John Noakes, and Peter Purves as well as more recent names such as John Leslie and Richard Bacon.

Zoe will join fellow presenters Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, and Matt Baker on screen in a few weeks' time.

The appointment comes with another presenter Liz Barker taking time off to have a baby next month, but planning to return to the show afterwards.

The programme will then have a five-strong team to cope with its new five-day a week schedule.

A spokesman for the programme said: "It's exciting that there is going to be the first new face on the show for four years."