Sir Paul McCartney is presented with a special Blue Peter Gold Badge

5 February 2019, 09:00 | Updated: 22 September 2023, 12:15

Sir Paul McCartney has said that he's finally "made it" after being presented with a Blue Peter 'gold badge'.

The Beatles icon will be shown being given the prestigious honour on Blue Peter this Thursday (February 7), and he revealed that he doesn’t actually know how to write songs.

Blue Peter presenter Lindsey asked him what advice he would give to young people who hope to become musicians and songwriters, and Sir Paul replied: “The only advice really is to do it… a lot. I have a song writing class and the first thing I say to them is ‘look I don’t really know how to do this’ and at first they kind of look at me, but when you think about it there is no formula.

"I know how to write one of my songs but I can’t say ‘you do it that way’, because it’s a very personal thing. So the advice really is to just do whatever it is you’re doing… a lot!”

Sir Paul was awarded the special badge for inspiring generations of people with his music.

He said: “That is beautiful, that’s a great badge. I will wear it with great pride. Yes! I made it!”

The Gold Blue Peter Badge is the long-running programme’s highest award, with only a handful of people being given one each year.

Sir Paul McCartney follows the likes of The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling, Steven Spielberg, Mary Berry, David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Madonna.

Sir Peter Jackson, who is currently directing a new Beatles documentary, also received a Gold Blue Peter Badge last year.