Joel Defries has presented a live, three-hour music show five days a week in the country, where he largely growing up.

He recently returned to the UK and has landed a job as one of the new hosts of the BBC children's show.

London-born Defries joins current presenter Andy Akinwolere and fellow newcomer Helen Skelton, 25, for the new series which begins later this month.

He said: "Being the presenter of Blue Peter is one of the finest jobs in the world. I wake up every day thinking I can't believe this is happening."

Defries was voted "person most likely to present a TV show" by his classmates at a young age.

He grew up in India and New Zealand, where he had his first taste of TV presenting on the live music show C4.

Skelton, who has dated a footballer in the Scottish Premier League but has worked in radio and TV since she was 18, also joins the line-up, following the departure of Zoe Salmon and Gethin Jones.

Blue Peter editor Tim Levell said: "In our 50th birthday year we want Blue Peter to be as fresh and as relevant to children as ever, and we believe that our two new presenters will really help us achieve that aim.

"Blue Peter has a long tradition of discovering talented presenters."