MC student Hammers on Blue Peter door

A student from the UoN Malaysia Campus (UNMC) is hoping to become the next presenter of Blue Peter.

Ben Hunte, a psychology student, is one of the last 10 applicants in the competition after the BBC cut down from an initial 20,000.

As founder and editor-in-chief of university magazine Ignite and President of the Student Association, Ben is one of the biggest names on the Malaysia Campus.

He was awarded a full scholarship to study there and receives funding to go on “insane” adventures in the region in return for blogging about his experiences, which include trekking, skydiving, mountain climbing and bungee jumping.

You can see Ben’s application video – including the inevitable climate-based “bants” – below:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=griAyFP3utU[/youtube]

Ben reckons that “there aren’t many young, black presenters on children’s television” so he didn’t feel that he had a lot of role models growing up. “I want to give something back, to be that inspiring, younger person, and to connect with people on a more personal level.”

BNOCing around

Professor Christine Ennew, CEO of UNMC, has said that Ben “has a natural ability to engage with people and make them feel special. He has creativity and imagination and, perhaps most of all, enthusiasm and openness to things that are new, exciting and different.”

The next stage in the Blue Peter process is the TV show ‘Blue Peter – You Decide!’, where the 10 contestants will be put through an X-Factor-esque weekly programme.

Myleene Klaas, Eamonn Holmes and Ceallach Spellman (who? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceallach_Spellman) will form the judging panel which eliminates a finalist each week. When the last three are announced, however, the decision will go to a public vote.

‘Blue Peter – You Decide!’ airs later in June.