Peter Duncan

For my latest Project 161018 adventure, I headed up to Edinburgh. However the day ended not quite how I expected. I had booked to go and see Peter Duncan in his one man show The Dame, at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The piece is written by Peter's daughter Katie. It is both moving and funny and Peter gives a powerful performance. After the show it was lovely to meet both Peter and his daughter. Peter signed a couple of my Blue Peter Books. including book 19, which has an article about his showbiz family and for which Katie used as references for the play.

I wasn't due to catch the train back home until later in the evening, so after lunch I had a walk around the city and watched some of the street performers. Little did I know that Peter Duncan was not the only former Blue Peter presenter I was to meet that day, but more on that later.

Peter Duncan joined the Blue Peter team in September 1980, he is the only presenter to do two stints on the programme. September 1980 - June 1984 and September 1985 to November 1986.
Prior to joining Blue Peter, he had attended The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre and Arts. His early career included roles on stage, appearing as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and 2 years at Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theatre. TV work includes roles on Space 1999, The Tomorrow People and King Cinder. Peter also had a famously brief role in the 1980 film version of Flash Gordon.

Upon joining Blue Peter, he soon became known as the new daredevil, with films for the programme including cleaning the face of Big Ben, Flying Trapeze and taking part in The Royal Marines Endurance Course. He also ran in the first ever London Marathon in a time of 3 hours, 11 minutes and 42 seconds. A time of which is still to be beaten by any Blue Peter presenter to run the race since. Peter was also the puppy walker for Guide Dog Prince.

Peter was a bit of a scruffy dresser and this led to a competition for viewers to design him an outfit. The winning design chosen by Peter was a very loud green and white checked suit, and he wore it on may occasions thereafter.

When Peter left Blue Peter for the first time, he went on to film his own series called Duncan Dares. Each programme focused on training for and then performing a daring act, including becoming a stuntman and tightrope walking.

Peter returned to Blue Peter in September 1985 and stayed for a further 15 months. He also filmed a further six Duncan Dares. He has often made guest appearances on the programme including in 2007 when he was awarded a Gold Blue Peter Badge. At this time he was Chef Scout and the award was given for inspiring young people for so long.

Peter returned to the stage in 1986, with roles in Barnum, Me and my girl and The Card. He is also a regular on the pantomime circuit . During 2015 and 2016 he played Wilbur Turnblad in the touting production of Hairspray. I went to see Peter in this production during its time in Manchester.

Peter has also taken part in Chanel Four's The Games and The BBC's Tumble, reaching the semi final.

Peter features in Blue Peter Books 18.19,20,21 and 23.

And who was the other former presenter I met in Edinburgh ? well I will tell you in the next blog post ............

Blue Peter and Guide Dogs

Blue Peter first became involved with The Guide Dogs for the blind association in 1964. The target for that years Christmas appeal was for 3 tons of silver paper and foil, enough to buy one guide dog. The result was 7 and half tons of silver paper and foil, enough to by two guide dogs (Honey and Cindy) with some money left over to help maintain a third dog.

Blue Peter's presenters at the time Christopher Trace and Valerie Singleton became Puppy walkers for one of the dogs, and so Honey's training was shown over the following months on the programme. After a year with Chris and Val, Honey went on to her advanced training on 6th February 1966 and for the next four months Honey was taught everything she needed to be an excellent guide dog. In the final month of training, Honey was introduced to her new owner. The owner and dog must learn to trust each other. This can be difficult, but gradually the pair began to work together. It was a proud day for Blue Peter when Honey led her owner through the gates of the training centre.

Honey Blue Peter's first Guide Dog

 In 1974 The 3B's appeal was launched to once again raise funds for Guide Dogs. 3B's stood for buttons, buckles and badges. The target two million envelopes of the 3B's to buy one guide dog, and a block of kennels for a new guide dog training centre. The result was six million envelops of the 3B's, enough for 11 guide dogs, a kennel block and extensions to several other training centres. Also an automatic drinking system for one centre and an incubator for another. Again one of the puppies was chosen to be puppy walked on the programmes, this time it was Peter Purves with Cindy.

In 1978 Simon Groom joined the presenting team, and with him came a new Blue Peter Pet, Goldie the Golden Retriever. Goldie had two litters of puppies during her time of the show. Goldie's first litter were born on 16th March 1981. The puppies were named by the viewers of the programme, Sandy, Buster, Henry, Prince and Lady. Lady went to live with Simon's parents on their farm in Dethick. The other 4 puppies were donated to Guide Dogs for the blind. Blue Peter again decided to follow the progress of one of the puppies, so Presenter Peter Duncan became puppy walker for Prince.

Simon Groom with Goldie.
Goldie gave birth to two litters of Guide Dog puppies.

Goldie's second litter were born on 3rd February 1986. This time she had 8 puppies, again all named by Blue Peter's audience, 66,368 people sent in name suggestions and the most popular were given to the puppies. Halley, Bonzo, Honey, Fergie, Snowy, Amber, Bonnie and Bruno. This time it was decided to keep Bonnie as the new Blue Peter pet, the other 7 went on to be trained as guide dogs.

On 16th January 1991, Bonnie gave birth to a litter of puppies, Major, Margot, Biddy, Lily, Teddy, and Honey. This time all the pups went to be trained as guide dogs. Honey (also the name of the programmes first guide dog) was chosen as the puppy who's progress would be followed on the programme and presenter John Leslie became her puppy walker.

Lindsey and Iggy go Christmas Shopping, during Puppy walking training.

Since then Blue Peter has followed the progress of 2 other puppies. In 2006 Magic was puppy walked with Andy Akinwolere. Sadly Magic had epilepsy and was not able to complete her training, so was re homed. The most recent Blue Peter guide dog is Iggy. Iggy joined the programme in June 2014, and her progress was followed by current presenter Lindsey Russell. In February 2016 Iggy was introduced to her new owner Callum and is making a huge difference to the young mans life.

Here we go !

On 16th October 2018 the longest running children's programme in the world - Blue Peter will celebrate its 60th Anniversary. The programme has had 37 presenters during its history including the present team of Barney Harwood, Lindsey Russel and Radzi Chinyanganya.

To commemorate this historic television milestone, I have set myself a personal challenge to try and meet as many past presenters as possible and get a photograph or selfie with them, before the16th October 2018.

I have chosen two charities to support during this challenge, Guide Dogs and R.N.L.I, both of these charities have been supported by Blue Peter and its viewers on several occasions during the past 60 years.

I will be posting my progress on the blog, and sharing snippets of Blue Peter history and memorabilia.

I have previously met four presenters, pictured above Yvette Fielding, Barney Harwood, Lindsey Russell and Helen Skelton. However I am starting a fresh for this charity project.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit my fundraising page.

Thank you