in the early 1960s, bastable applied for a job as a television news reporter for southern television, but was turned down for being "too young". instead he was given a job presenting a children's programme. within 18 months he was working for atv as a presenter of children's shows, sports magazines and schools' programmes. in 1968 he moved to thames television and began presenting "magpie", a new children's programme, with susan stranks and pete brady. "magpie" was effectively a "groovier" version of the bbc's "blue peter". in 1972, he became "magpie"'s producer.