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Peter Purves
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Peter Purves (born February 10, 1939) is an English actor and television presenter.
Purves was born in New Longton, near Preston, Lancashire, England, went to the independent Arnold School in Blackpool and originally planned to go into teaching, training at Alsager College of Education, but began acting with the Barrow-in-Furness Repertory Company. He is now regarded by many as a national treasure with many talents, including being a couturier and expert in close-up magic.
irst became well-known to television audiences in the mid-1960s as Steven Taylor, one of the early time-travelling companions in the programme Doctor Who, acting opposite the Doctor played by William Hartnell.
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Encyclopedia
Peter Purves (born February 10, 1939) is an English actor and television presenter.
Purves was born in New Longton, near Preston, Lancashire, England, went to the independent Arnold School in Blackpool and originally planned to go into teaching, training at Alsager College of Education, but began acting with the Barrow-in-Furness Repertory Company. He is now regarded by many as a national treasure with many talents, including being a couturier and expert in close-up magic.
Doctor Who
He first became well-known to television audiences in the mid-1960s as Steven Taylor, one of the early time-travelling companions in the programme Doctor Who, acting opposite the Doctor played by William Hartnell. After leaving Doctor Who, Purves became a regular presenter on the children's magazine programme Blue Peter, and was one of the longest-serving, lasting from 1967 to 1978. Purves maintained his connection to Doctor Who throughout his time on Blue Peter, often hosting special features on the programme and interviewing the actors. These included many clips from episodes which are otherwise now lost.
Blue Peter
Purves co-presented Blue Peter with John Noakes and Valerie Singleton in the so called "golden age" of the programme. He was so closely associated with the programme, especially as "the sensible one", that he found the image difficult to shake off afterwards. Purves was, however, able to move on to other areas of presenting including a spell as the front man for BBC darts coverage. But, Blue Peter apart, he is probably best known as host of the long-running BBC1 motorbike trials series Kick Start.
Other television appearances
His recent TV career has included cameo appearances in episodes of programmes such as the soap opera EastEnders and sitcoms The Office and I'm Alan Partridge. In The Office episode "Training Day" Purves played himself in a customer care training video that David Brent and his staff were being shown (incidentally, Purves is a qualified business trainer and a motivational speaker). In I'm Alan Partridge, Purves featured in one of Partridge's typically bizarre anecdotes.
Right, I'll tell you an anecdote. In 1974 I was catching the London train from Crewe station. It was very crowded; I found myself in a last-minute rush for the one remaining seat beside a tall, good-looking man with collar-length hair, it was the seventies; buckaroo! I looked up and saw it was none other than Peter Purves, it was the height of his Blue Peter career. He said, "You jammy bastard" and quick as a flash, I replied, "Don't be blue, Peter!" Needless to say, I had the last laugh, now fuck off!
Dogs have featured in Purves's career from his Blue Peter days. He was given charge of one of the "Blue Peter Pets", Petra, a German Shepherd cross. This led to a thirty year association with television coverage of major dog shows such as Crufts and in 2007 his appearance as a judge on the reality TV programme The Underdog Show. Purves also writes for the dog press and regularly presents at dog award shows. On 31st July 2008 he was bitten by a West Highland terrier whilst judging a dog show at a garden centre in Norwich. Purves was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where he received treatment to his hand. Undeterred, Purves continued his involvement with canines in the 2008 show "Dogs and Poker" on Fiver. With Purves' help, a variety of dogs re-enacted famous paintings by playing specially adapted versions of the bar room games snooker and poker. Sadly the show was pulled after five episodes as it proved too expensive to make.
In the theatre, Purves is a noted pantomime director enjoying a good working relationship with the Chuckle Brothers. He is also an after-dinner speaker.
Purves now lives in the Suffolk village of Sibton. In 2008, Valerie Singleton revealed she had had a "brief fling" with Purves.
Marking his 70th birthday, his 2009 autobiography Here's One I Wrote Earlier was released at the Kennel Club.
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