‘Some of our greatest fans were pub landlords’ – how we made Newsround

‘I didn’t sit behind a desk because we didn’t want to make it seem like a classroom’ … John Craven presenting Newsround Photograph: BBC Pictures Archives

John Craven, presenter

My involvement in Newsround came through two lucky breaks. In 1971, I was a reporter on BBC Points West in Bristol. One afternoon, I strolled into the studio and was told auditions were under way for Search, a new current affairs programme aimed at children. “Can I have a go?” I asked and, with less than five minutes to prepare, amazingly got the job. A year later, Edward Barnes, then deputy head of BBC Children’s TV, had a six-minute gap to fill on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm.