Kelly Sotherton

MORE exciting details have emerged about Saturday’s live Blue Peter broadcast on Saffron Walden Common, despite BBC officials remaining tightlipped on some of the other surprises in store.

The Reporter can reveal that Olympic medalist Kelly Sotherton will be the special guest on the live show between 9 and 9.30am.

The 35-year-old heptathlete, who won an Olympic bronze medal in Athens in 2004, retired from the sport in May due to back problems.

She also won a World Championship silver medal in the pentathlon in Valencia in 2008 and both a Commonwealth gold in Melbourne in 2006 and silver in the Osaka World Championships in 2007 in the heptathlon.

Kelly has stepped in for Richard Wisker, ex-Tracy Beaker actor and host of CBBC’s Friday Download, who was unable to make it on the day.

She will also be involved in the three stage shows scheduled for 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. The BBC hopes this will allow revellers to move from the Common to the High Street to see the Olympic Flame make its way through the town.

Other activities on the Common include a windsurfing simulator provided by UK Sailing – a treat that has been reserved for only the Saffron Walden and Isle of Wight events.

The live Blue Peter broadcast from 9am is a ticketed event ONLY. There will be no public access to the Common until 10am but the festivities will continue throughout the day until 4pm.