Konnie Huq, 51, makes rare appearance at children's event 18 years after her Blue Peter stint - after revealing she hasn't bought any new clothes in over two decades

Konnie Huq made a rare public appearance as she attended the launch of the Kids Aloud initiative at The Foundling Museum in London on Thursday.

The former presenter, 51, was a firm on-screen favourite when she appeared as a Blue Peter presenter between December 1997 and January 2008.

Two decades on, she has taken a step back from TV, focused her career on writing children's books and has adopted a frugal lifestyle. She revealed last year she hasn't bought any clothes in 20 years. 

Now, Konnie has leant her support to the initiative, which encourages children and their parents to feel welcome in cultural spaces such as museums and galleries.

The former TV star looked like she had hardly aged since her Blue Peter days as she posed for photos in blue jeans and a ruffle top. 

Konnie, who is married to Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, has often spoken out about living a sustainable life and previously admitted to the Daily Mail: 'I am essentially a bit anti-consumerist, so I don't buy things.

'I haven't bought clothes in, say, the last 20 years – all those years I did on Blue Peter, you get clothes for the job anyway.

'The older I get, the more comfy I feel in my own skin. So now, I'd rather be really unfashionable, but know people like me for me, rather than the clothes I wear. I'm much happier opting out.'

Despite being in the public eye, Konnie doesn't use social media and instead describes her technology habits as 'totally retro' as she loves chatting on the phone, rather than texting.

'My phone is always like my husband's old phone, and then my son has got my old phone.

'So it just gets handed down and handed down essentially, so I never get a new phone, I just will get my husband's cast-offs essentially.'

In an interview with the Press Association, Konnie explained why she is so passionate about the project – which is in its third year.

She said: 'It is really important to get our kids interested in the arts and ignite their passion for learning at a young age.

'This whole initiative is all about that.'

The campaign, on behalf of charity Art Fund, will see over 60 participating museums across the UK allocate specific hours for children to visit, during which they can express themselves freely and noisily.  

The mother-of-two continued: 'Most of us parents know what it's like, having a lot of time to kill and bored children on your hands.

 'The worries that parents have are that their kids will be loud or disruptive or disturb other people – but people know it's the summer holidays.'

Museums across the UK, such as FE McWilliam Gallery in Northern Ireland and St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, will hold events encouraging kids and their families to visit.