Richard Bacon has shut down rumours he snorted cocaine off the two Blue Peter tortoises, 23 years after being fired from the childrens' TV show. The presenter, 45, reflected on the past drugs scandal which saw him sacked from the programme in 1998, during an appearance on Dave show Unforgivable. During his appearance, the topic of why he left the series came up with host Mel Giedroyc probing about the two animals called Fred and Frieda. It's not true! Richard Bacon has shut down rumours he snorted cocaine off the two Blue Peter tortoises, 23 years after being fired from the childrens' TV show (pictured in 1997)