Peter Duncan (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Duncan
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| Born | 3 May 1954 London, England
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| Alma mater | Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Spouse(s) | Annie Francis |
Peter Duncan (born 3 May 1954) is a well-known English actor and television presenter. Many people remember him as a presenter on the popular children's show Blue Peter in the 1980s. He also created a series of fun travel documentaries with his family. In 2020, Peter directed, produced, and acted in the film Jack and the Beanstalk, which was shown in cinemas across the UK. He also helped start an adventure travel company called The Natural Adventure in 2009.
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Early Life and Education
Peter Duncan was born in London, England. He attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, which is a special school in London for performing arts. He also completed his secondary education at Hawes Down School for Boys. Later, he continued his studies with the Open University.
Peter's Early Acting Career
Peter Duncan started his career as an actor on stage. He played Jim Hawkins in a play called Treasure Island. After that, he spent two years working at the Royal National Theatre, which was founded by the famous actor Laurence Olivier.
Peter also appeared in several television shows. Some of his roles were in The Tomorrow People, Space: 1999, King Cinder, and Survivors. He also had parts in films like Stardust (1974) and Mister Quilp (1975). He even had a small role in the movie Flash Gordon (1980). Peter played leading roles in the BBC's King Cinder and in the ITV children's series The Flockton Flyer.
Peter Duncan on Blue Peter
Peter Duncan joined the Blue Peter team in 1980. He was known for doing exciting and daring stunts, much like the show's previous presenter, John Noakes. One famous stunt involved him cleaning the face of the Clock Tower (which holds Big Ben) while on a rope swing. This created a lot of discussion for the BBC!
Peter was on Blue Peter for two different periods: first from 1980 to 1984, and then again from 1985 to 1986. His adventurous spirit led to his own spin-off series called Duncan Dares.
He also participated in the London Marathon several times. He ran in the first London Marathon in 1981 and again in 1991, 2001, and 2012. On 20 February 2007, Peter received the highest Blue Peter award, the Gold Badge, for his work as the Scout Association's Chief Scout.
Return to the Stage
After leaving Blue Peter for good in 1986, Peter Duncan went back to acting on stage. He performed in plays like Funny Peculiar and in musicals such as Barnum and The Card. For his role in The Card, he was even nominated for an Olivier Award, which is a very important award for theatre in the UK.
In the 1990s, Peter appeared in many pantomimes, which are fun, musical plays often performed around Christmas. He also produced some of these pantomimes through his own company. He wrote and directed the Oxford Playhouse pantomime for several years. More recently, he has performed in plays like Charlie Peace and Birdsong, and in the touring production of Hairspray. He is currently acting in a two-man play called When Darkness Falls.
Family Travel Adventures
Between 1999 and 2005, Peter Duncan filmed and produced three exciting travel documentary series. These shows featured his family, including his wife Annie and their four children: Lucy, Katie, Georgia, and Arthur, as they went on backpacking trips around the world.
The first series, Travel Bug, followed their six-month journey around the globe. It was filmed in 1999 when his children were between 7 and 13 years old and was shown on BBC1. The next series, Chinese Breakaway, showed the family's two-month backpacking trip across China in 2002. This series was aired on Five and Sky Travel. In the third series, Arthur's trip to India, Peter's 13-year-old son, Arthur, was the main presenter. There was also an extra episode called Arthur's trip to Jordan.
Work with the Scout Association
Peter Duncan was chosen to be the Scout Association's Chief Scout for five years, from September 2004 to July 2009. This is a very important role in the Scouting movement in the UK.
Recent Activities
Since 2007, Peter Duncan has continued to be very active. In 2007, he took part in the Channel 4 series The Games, where celebrities compete in sports. He has also written and directed pantomimes for different theatres. In 2007, he played Macduff in Macbeth at Regents Park Theatre in London and filmed a documentary about Scouts climbing Mount Everest.
As someone who loves outdoor adventures, Peter co-founded The Natural Adventure company in 2009. This company specializes in self-guided walking and cycling holidays, offering more than 600 tours in 58 countries.
In 2014, Peter competed in BBC1's acrobatic and circus show Tumble. He is also a Patron of British Youth Music Theatre, which supports young people in musical theatre. In 2020, he wrote, produced, and directed the British film Jack and the Beanstalk, which was released in cinemas.
Partial Filmography
- Stardust (1974) – Kevin
- Mister Quilp (1975) – Kit Nubbles
- Flash Gordon (1980) – Young Treeman
- Jack and the Beanstalk (film) (2020) – Dame Trott
- Cinderella (film) (2021) – Billie Eyelash
