A wannabe TV star who grew up on a farm in Stirlingshire is in the running to be the next Blue Peter presenter.
Freddie Ingleby is one of 10 hopefuls chosen from more than 20,000 people who applied to be on the world’s longest-running children’s TV programme.
The 24-year-old, who was educated at Ardvreck School, near Crieff, and Glenalmond College, will take part in an X Factor-style search called Blue Peter You Decide! which begins later this month.
Freddie will take part in heats against nine other aspiring presenters aged 19 to 28, including a primary school teacher, a dancer who attended the Brit School and a science fan with his own YouTube channel.
Viewers will be invited to take part in an online public vote to decide which of the hopefuls will be eliminated.
Growing up at Malling Farm near Lake of Menteith, Freddie admits that he always wanted to be a presenter.
He left home to study industrial design and technology at Loughborough University and hosted his own shows on campus radio.
Freddie watched Blue Peter as a youngster and says one former presenter sparked his interest in taking to the small screen.
“Matt Baker really inspired me when I was growing up,” said Freddie. “He seemed such an approachable guy who could get on with anyone and is a real natural on camera.”
Freddie is a trainee manager at recycling firm Sims Metal Management Ltd in Birmingham. He is a former rowing coach, has completed a several half-marathons and says he has a love of animals and the outdoors.
Freddie added: “I’m energetic, enthusiastic and committed. I don’t shy away from anything, and I smile a lot.”
His father John, 71, who still works the farm back home in Stirlingshire, told The Courier that he’s “very pleased” for his son.
“I think it’s a tremendous achievement,” he said. “He has always been a hard worker and he gets on very well with people.”
Freddie is the third of John’s four children. He has an older sister, Kim, and an older brother Mungo, who also works the farm, as well as a younger sister, Rosie.
The four siblings often watched Blue Peter together at the farmhouse.
John added: “Freddie was a fan of the show. They all watched it. Freddie has always been interested in that kind of thing, presenting and the like.”