A CO Down magician and content creator has been unveiled as the newest presenter of Blue Peter.
Bangor-born Joel Mawhinney (25) will start his new role on November 11, co-hosting alongside Richie Driss, Mwaka Mudenda and Henry the Dog.
He will be thrown in at the deep end with a road trip to Scotland for glamping, kayaking and cliff jumping into the cold waters of Loch Ard.
Mawhinney first appeared on Blue Peter in 2018 as a guest and also presented the show over summer 2022 when he taught some of his co-presenters magic tricks.
"Becoming the 41st Blue Peter presenter is a surreal and - dare I say it - magical experience," he said.
"I've always loved making people smile with my magic and I want to do the same for the Blue Peter audience.
"They have high expectations and I'll do my best to live up to them. I can't wait to get started."
The former Bangor Grammar School pupil follows in the footsteps of fellow Northern Ireland presenters Adam Beales, whose left the show earlier this year, the late Caron Keating, and Zoe Salmon, who is also from Bangor.
Blue Peter editor Ellen Evans said: "Joel is a fantastic entertainer, he is creative, hard-working, and ready for any challenge that we can throw at him.
"I think that our Blue Peter audience will love the energy and fun he'll bring to the show."
