John Noakes 'gave Shep away'

BLUE Peter legend John Noakes was allowed to keep his canine sidekick Shep but chose to give him away, a book has claimed.

- Lara Hasan

The beloved presenter had always maintained the pair were forced apart by BBC bosses when he left the children's TV show in 1978.

John said in 1983: "I thought Shep was mine. They told me I could keep him, but they went back on their word."