BBC Blue Peter star says she was spotted on TikTok and found her dream job via Instagram

Abby Cook, 20, a wheelchair racer from Falkirk who now lives in Manchester, told how her career with Blue Peter was launched through social media.

A Blue Peter presenter at the Bafta Scotland awards revealed his discovery via TikTok, while a veteran sports broadcaster has rejected the idea of ​​replacing Gary Lineker on Match Of The Day.

Abby Cook, a 20-year-old wheelchair racer from Falkirk who now lives in Manchester, told how social media pushed her to star in Blue Peter. Decorating her prom dress with a Blue Peter badge, Cook recalled her childhood days when she loved watching the BBC children’s programme. Since she had no agent, she was discovered through Instagram direct messages for the pitching gig.

Expressing his desire to work in Scotland and the serendipitous nature of his career, Cook said, “I would love to come to Scotland, I just need to find an agent for myself. I found my job through social media. I was found through TikTok.” and contacted via Instagram direct messages.”

He added: “They asked if I would send a 1.5 minute video.”

Describing his rapid journey from studying occupational health in Glasgow to appearing on television, Cook said: “I was studying occupational health in Glasgow, then I went on television. The way I earned my first Blue Peter badge was by parachuting off a viaduct.”

His fond memories of attending the show as a viewer, voting on ‘Blue Peter You Decide’ and his eventual role as presenter seemed like an alignment of fate. Despite failing to win the Audience Award at the event, Cook highlighted the challenges of being an influencer, saying: “It’s really hard to put that much of your life on the line.”

In contrast, Hazel Irvine, 59, imparted wisdom to budding broadcasters, encouraging them to “read, read, read, write, write, write” in pursuit of their ambitions.

However, he rejected the idea of ​​taking over Gary Lineker’s role in Match Of The Day, saying: “I think my footballing days are over.”

He fondly recalled the time covering the World Cup in Italy in 1990 as “a thrill and a half”. Irvine shared her wisdom for aspiring female journalists: “I have a lot of advice for young women – read, read, read and write, write, write.”

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He encouraged determination with the words “If you want to do it, you will do it” and highlighted the increasing opportunities now available: “There are things you have to do if you want to be a broadcaster and they were not open to me. I was young, I think there are countless opportunities for young people to start their careers.”

Irvine was honored with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television at the Bafta Scotland awards on Sunday. Broadcaster Andrew Cotter praised her for “making it look easy” and admitted that she had “grafted” throughout her nearly four-decade career.

The ceremony included clips of Irvine and Cotter broadcasting from Paris under a tarp, and another of Irvine wearing a knit sweater decorated with thistles.

Snooker commentator John Parrott praised him as “always flawless and well rehearsed”, while fellow pundit Alan McManus noted that this recognition “should have happened long before now”. Gary Lineker himself expressed his admiration, saying he “learned a lot” from Irvine, whom he described as “one of the best in the business.”

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