This week has been about drama. Now, I am not talking EastEnders’ Lucy Beale-sized drama, but bigger.

It’s not often you can say that within a week you’ve been given a Blue Peter badge.

It was well deserved in my humble opinion and I’ve been thinking about why they are so special.

It’s definitely because of the long history of the show. I remember someone in my school once earned one and they immediately became the most popular girl who ever walked the planet.

However, in the interest of honesty, I have to admit this wasn’t the first Blue Peter badge to be in my possession.

Surrey Comet:

The Blue Peter badge 

Having been a presenter on Children’s BBC and often needing to talk to the Blue Peter presenters about their appeals, summer trips or be involved with the all singing and dancing Christmas Pantos, it was protocol that a badge had to be worn while on set, so I have a few in my keepsake box.

Anyway I digress. The reason I was given a badge this week was because I was asked to be a judge for the Blue Peter Book Awards this year and had to travel to Liverpool central library to meet the other judges and make our shortlist.

Now this was no mean feat because over the last few weeks I’ve had to read 40 books cover to cover in order to whittle them down to the top three books in the category of best story, and the top three books within the category of best book with facts.

I’m not sure where I have found the time to do this, what with looking after the children, working when I can and trying to run the home; but what it has done is ignite a passion for reading.

Unfortunately as a child I rarely picked up a book, something I have often regretted over the years and since then, have tried to rectify this and being part of this judging experience has been the encouragement I needed.

I now want to set up a book club too, as if I haven’t got enough to do.