Blue Peter hosts Shini Muthukrishnan and Joel Mawhinney ‘secretly dating for a year’ after ‘hitting it off instantly’
BLUE Peter presenters Shini Muthukrishnan and Joel Mawhinney have found love while co-hosting the beloved children’s TV show.
Shini, 22, and Joel, 25, have been working together on the BBC show since the former joined the cast in January last year.
Sources reported the pair are “practically living together” after immediately hitting it off.
“Shini and Joel hit it off instantly and became great friends before anything romantic happened between them,” an unnamed source told Daily Mail.
“They keep their work and personal lives completely separate and are the consummate professionals on set.
“They’ve been very discreet but a lot of people working on the show know about their off-screen relationship.”
The source said the pair was “totally gorgeous together” and could maybe “become the hot new couple on the celebrity circuit in the coming months.”
The Sun contacted BBC representatives by email on Sunday morning for comment.
Shini was a huge TikTok star when she cast as a presenter on the world’s longest-running children’s TV show.
She had just recently graduated from studying philosophy, politics and economics at King’s College London, when she joined the existing Blue Peter team of Abby Cook, Joel, and Henry the Dog.
Speaking of her excitement at landing the role, Shini said in 2024: “Being part of the Blue Peter team is such a surreal and exciting feeling. It’s my first time on the big screen and I can’t wait for all the adventures to come!”
“I have really fond memories of Blue Peter, Helen [Skelton] and Barney [Harwood] were my era. As a kid, I looked up to Helen Skelton, she seemed fearless on screen.
“She took on incredible challenges with such a headstrong attitude that made me think I can be fearless too.”
The Stafford-born star has been described as a perfect fit for the role by the BBC thanks to her love of reading, books, adventure and sport.
Shini received her first Blue Peter badge with participation in a dazzling aircraft aerobatics challenge.
But hasn’t been all good news over at Blue Peter with BBC axing airing live episodes of the beloved show, leaving devastated staff reeling from the shock move.
At its peak, the show, which has been a mix of live and pre-recorded shows in recent years, attracted 8 million views.
A spokeswoman told The Sun: “The programme will not be online only, but on CBBC, sign zone, BBC2 and iPlayer.
It was for a long time, broadcast from MediaCityUK in Salford, and aired on digital TV channel CBBC on Fridays at 5 p.m.
But BBC bosses assured fans that it was not a death knell for Blue Peter, as pre-recorded shows will continue to air on CBBC, Sign Zone, BBC2 and iPlayer.
Blue Peter's biggest stars
With over 5,000 episodes produced, Blue Peter has been on air since 1958 and has seen a raft of famous faces at the helm
Christoper Trace – 1958 to 1967
Valerie Singleton – 1962 to 1972
John Noakes – 1965 to 1978
Peter Purves – 1967 to 1978
Simon Groom – 1978 to 1986
Janet Ellis – 1983 to 1987
Peter Duncan – 1985 to 1986
Yvette Fielding – 1987 to 1992
John Leslie – 1989 to 1994
Konnie Huq – 1987 to 2008
Matt Baker – 1999 to 2006
Gethin Jones – 2005 to 2008
Helen Skelton – 2008 to 2013
Barney Hardwood – 2011 to 2017
Lindsey Russell – 2013 to 2021
Radzi Chinyanganya – 2013 to 2019