Blue Peter the 50th anniversary) the opening arrangement of the tune was reworked to include elements of "Barnacle Bill" once again. The closing theme for 2008 is the same as opening signature tune. In September 2011, the series returned to using "Barnacle Bill" though with the opening bars and drum roll omitted (along with the "Sailor's Hornpipe") and the traditional closing signature tune not used. 1958–1989: The earliest episodes featured stock footage of a sailing ship under the opening credits. By the late 1960s, Blue Peter's opening sequence featured extracts of that edition's filmed inserts or an event in the studio where
Barnacle Bill (1957 film) as a favour to the director. In later years, however, he recalled it as "wretched, (a film) ... I never wanted to do and only did out of friendship to Charley Frend." Although "Barnacle Bill" was the last Ealing comedy, it was shot at Hunstanton Pier and Borehamwood Studios, as Ealing Studios had closed and was sold to the BBC for television production. "Barnacle Bill" as "All at Sea" was reviewed in "The New York Times" by Bosley Crowther. His review was sympathetic to the failings of the film and script but he did see redeeming qualities in Guinness's performance.