Bye George

George the tortoise - star of "Blue Peter" for 22 years - has died of old age. He was 83.

16:38 10 May 2004

George the tortoise - star of "Blue Peter" for 22 years - has died of old age. He was 83.

A special tribute episode to the beloved reptile will be aired on Monday. He will be buried in the children's show's garden.

George, a Mediterranean spur-thigh tortoise, kept pace with 20 human presenters.

He created a stir on several occasions. George famously urinated on 400-metre runner Chris Akabusi and he was also trodden on by presenter Mark Curron live on television during Mark's first day on the programme.

In 1988 burglars released him from his pen - leading bosses at the BBC programme to believe he had been stolen.

George was found three miles away two weeks later - a day after "Blue Peter" had run a tribute episode to their terrestrial turtle.

Editor of "Blue Peter" Richard Marson said: "George was very popular with several generations of Blue Peter viewers and we will all really miss him.

"Requests for his photo card have often exceeded those for some presenters and we'll be sending them out to any viewer who wants a memento of a much-loved pet."

His last appearance was on April 14th - alongside the animal responsible for filling his shoes, the new tortoise, Shelley.