Long-running British series Blue Peter is getting a makeover from BBC Children’s and Education as part of a new strategy to help the show appeal to modern kids, who are true digital natives. 

Created by John Hunter Blair, Blue Peter launched in 1958 as a magazine format series featuring presenter-led segments focused on colorful pets, celebrity guests, music, sports, fun challenges and recipes. 

The show has traditionally boasted a mix of live and taped content, but the Beeb is going with a fully pre-recorded format going forward—which has been known since March, when reports emerged that Blue Peter had filmed its last live episode.

Building on this fundamental change, the UK pubcaster announced today that the show is rolling out a “digital-first magazine format” in September. And it will also be produced out of a new creative space that’s part of Versa Studios’ Campfield Facilities in Manchester, even though its production team and all post-production work are to remain seated at Media City in Salford. 

Blue Peter will continue airing on CBBC/BBC Two, streaming on the BBC iPlayer, and maintaining a (likely stronger) digital presence on YouTube and social media. 

This revamp stems from a recent BBC tender process for the production of Blue Peter—with BBC Studios Kids & Family eventually retaining the contract. Its brief was to shape a more “digitally focused” series and build on the strengths of the Blue Peter brand. 

The team is now busy “evolving the show in innovative ways,” according to Sarah Muller, senior head of children’s commissioning (7+) at BBC Children’s, though the exact nature of these changes will only become clear in September. “The move to the new studio will provide a variety of creative locations and visual options that a whole new generation of viewers will love,” Muller explained. “Whether through interactive social media moments, global adventures or on-demand content, we’re proud to continue the legacy of a show that has inspired generations.”

Some signature aspects of the show will not be touched, such as its unscripted surprises and the awarding of Blue Peter badges. Each year, this now-iconic practice celebrates kid viewers who have achieved something—whether it’s an eco-friendly life change or making progress in reading, sports and music.