Broadcaster Richard Bacon has stated that being fired from the children's television program Blue Peter for cocaine use ultimately altered the course of his life for the better. Bacon, who was dismissed in October 1998 after less than two years on the show, reflected on the incident during an episode of the Daily Mail's podcast, "Tales From the Celebrity Trenches."
Bacon, then 21, had landed the presenting role in 1997. The scandal, reported by the News of the World on the show's 40th anniversary, led to his immediate dismissal by the BBC.
Reflecting on the event 28 years later, Bacon suggested that without the Blue Peter firing, he might have ended up presenting a less prominent travel show. Instead, the incident opened the door to a role on Channel 4's "The Big Breakfast." He noted that the show's host, Johnny Vaughan, had a past conviction for cocaine dealing, making Bacon's own experience seem less significant in comparison.
A Memorable Interview
Elsewhere in the podcast, Bacon humorously claimed that he should be remembered as Britney Spears' first husband. He recounted an interview with Spears in 2002, following her public breakup with Justin Timberlake. Bacon brought a licensed vicar with him and, as a joke, proposed to the pop star.
He described presenting Spears with a marriage contract, which she signed. Bacon stated that Spears' security guard later tore up the contract, but he maintains that, legally, they were married. The situation became complicated two years later when Spears married Kevin Federline in 2004. Bacon recounted retelling his mock-marriage story on his Xfm radio show, jokingly referring to Spears as a bigamist, which resulted in humorous tabloid headlines in the U.S.
The full interview with Richard Bacon and Jamie East is available on "Tales From the Celebrity Trenches."