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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Christopher Megrath

This Morning's Holly and Phil gobsmacked as Blue Peter time capsule from 1981 unearthed

Former Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene joined This Morning to open their 40-year-old time capsule.

Holly and Phil welcomed Sarah on today's show where she had the honour of welcoming a very special gift from the past. The class of '81 contacted the Blue Peter team to arrange a time capsule which would only be opened in 40 years and to be filled with everything representative of that era which the programme agreed to.

Kicking the show off, Phil said: "During recent work, builders found the forgotten time capsule and today we got to see what treasure lies inside. Sarah was presenting on the day the capsule was buried in March 1981."

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Phil asked Sarah if she remembered the burial day which she confirmed but said the exact contents of the box eluded her. She said: "I can't remember exactly what's in there so it's going to be quite a surprise for me as it is for you."

As the team took the capsule's lid off they were perplexed to see the majority of the contents had eroded into looking something similar to a "ginger cake". Sarah attempted to cover the contents out of embarrassment as she said: "I don't think you need this. Perhaps we should've wrapped things up a little more."

Holly added: "I reckon it's wrapped in plastic and under there might be something salvageable so we'll have a little rummage." After the box was taken for cleaning Sarah explained the grotesque appearance isn't due to rotting or food but the metal it was encased in.

She said: "The metal that was lining the box corroded and attacked everything inside but what we have managed to rescue is the projects the six kids who were involved with the project helped with."

Getting things back on track, Sarah was able to reveal the box included multiple crisp packet wrappers along with an original Mike Oldfield disc. Some old film was also found but Sarah admitted she had "no idea what could possibly be on it." In a large glass jar sat a signed script from the show the day the capsule was buried which was kept in its casing as it was set to be reburied in the next.

Several children joined Sarah to create a new memory box set to be opened in 2042 which included the likes of the aforementioned studio script, a Premier League magazine and stickers, and a PS4 controller. Other items were taken from the ITV studio like Holly and Phil mugs, a pair of Beats headphones, a new signed script from today's This Morning and a brand new Blue Peter badge.

The box was believed to be lost several years ago as Sarah said the plaque signifying the location was stolen. "There used to be a huge carpark underneath all of this construction but there was a plaque telling people [the time capsule] was there but it was stolen. Even if it's nailed down it'll get nicked."

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