Biografia
Peter Duncan is an actor, presenter, and documentary maker with a TV, film, and theatre career spanning over forty years. A self-proclaimed adventurer, he thrives on challenges, such as competing in BBC1's acrobatic show Tumble last year or filming white-water rafting in the Balkans. He gained fame for his daring spirit when he joined Blue Peter in 1980 as their action man. Peter completed the inaugural London Marathon in just over three hours, though his 2012 finish was slower. His adventures include battling a sumo wrestler in Japan, cleaning Big Ben's clock face, escaping a forest fire in Canada, alongside cooking, gardening, and fundraising efforts.
Peter began his career on stage with Olivier’s National Theatre, spending the 1970s solely as an actor. After Blue Peter, he took on musical theatre roles such as Barnum, Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl, and Charlie Chaplin in The Little Tramp. In 1995, he earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Denry Machin in The Card. More recently, he portrayed Charlie Peace at Nottingham Playhouse and Jack Firebrace in the Birdsong tour, as well as Macduff in Macbeth and Fantastic Mr. Fox at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Each year, he writes and directs his own pantomime, continuing his family tradition.
In 1985, his series Duncan Dares showcased stunts like driving a VW Beetle across the Irish Sea, walking a high wire, and lying on a bed of nails with a tarantula and python on his chest. In 2001, he produced Travel Bug, a six-part BBC documentary series featuring him, his partner Annie, and their four children backpacking worldwide. Two follow-up series followed their travels through China and India. His recent TV appearances include the 26-part slapstick comedy Demolition Dad for Channel Five, Channel 4’s The Games, and Celebrity Total Wipeout, where he narrowly lost the final.
Peter’s TV acting credits include The Childhood Friend, Sons and Lovers, Renoir My Father, Warship, Fathers and Families, Sam, Fallen Hero, Survivors, King Cinder, Oranges and Lemons, The Flockton Flyer, and Space 1999. His film work features Stardust, Quilp, and a memorable cameo in Flash Gordon, where he was bitten by a tree monster and died. He is patron of Neighbourhood Midwives, Youth Music Theatre, and Action for Children’s Arts. For his volunteer leadership of the UK’s half a million scouts, he received a Gold Blue Peter badge.
