The news presenter was up before dawn to ‘trade’ his TV studio mug collection for donations
TV presenter Peter Levy was a hit at Hull’s Walton Street market and car boot when he turned up with a huge collection of mugs to give away. The BBC Look North news show host “traded” the mugs, sent to his studio by charities, sports clubs and groups that tune in to the programme, out of the back of his Ford Fiesta.
Peter was filmed as he set out pre-dawn with boxes of the mugs to hand out to the public. He invited donations that were to be placed in a BBC Children In Need bucket – and ended up collecting more than £500 from the enterprise, on Wednesday, December 17.
Crowds gathered from first thing to take their pick of the mugs. Peter chatted to his “customers”, had selfies, and at least one kiss from a fan. One of his followers brought him Christmas cake, saying she knew he did not like mince pies; another bought him a festive bobble hat to wear, from a stall at Walton Street.
Peter posted on X: “Thanks to everyone who came out in the cold to say hello and made such generous donations. This afternoon £513 pounds went to Children in Need, thank you so much x @BBCCiN”
Peter previously invited groups to be part of his Mug of the Day initiative, in the hope their own branded mugs might get a moment in the spotlight – and their organisation a shout-out – during one of his news bulletins. Mug of the Day is continuing as new “entries” jostle for airtime.
The broadcaster said people had kept asking what he was going to do with all the mugs that found their way to his Hull studio. Then he announced that the giveaway was happening.
One follower posted: “Well done Peter. You certainly seemed to enjoy it. Need more of you on location in the future you are a natural when out filming.”
A report by the BBC of Peter’s market visit said he had “donned his best Del Boy outfit to give away a collection of mugs featured on the show”. Talking about how it all came about, Peter said: “I asked the boss of Radio Humberside if we could have a Radio Humberside mug to put on the table occasionally, and a Look North mug, which I did.
“Groups then started asking for their mugs to be on the telly. All the best ideas happen by accident.”
At Walton Street, Peter said he had been delighted with the response from shoppers and that there had been a “lot of generosity” from people braving the cold and donating to Children In Need.