Blue Peter
Simon Thomas: The Best Bits (2)
Wednesday 4 May 2005 on BBC-1

Relive some more of Simon's memories.

July 2008, Peter was bitten at the dog show Scrufts while judging a terrier; it was the first time this happened in 25 years of judging dog shows. The dog was disqualified and Peter continued with the judging; he later went to the hospital to be patched up. (edit) Peter is penning his autobiography. (edit) Peter had a brief fling with his Blue Peter co-star Valerie Singleton while they were co-hosting the show, he was between marriage. Valerie has called it "more a friendship thing than anything else". (edit) Since 1976, Peter has been presenting at the Crufts Dog Show for the BBC. He became the principal presenter and commentator in 1989. Peter is also involved in other shows involving animals including Pets Go Public, Breed All About It, All About Dogs and Superdogs. (edit) Peter was supposed to join the Blue Peter team only for six months as a job between acting gigs, but the chemistry there was between him and his co-hosts Valerie Singleton and John Noakes ensured is staying on the show beyond that period. He stayed for 10 years. (edit)

Peter: (On what happened when he was bitten at a dog show in July 2008) I was examining the teeth and the ears of the third contestant of the day. I looked at its teeth, they were fine. When I looked in its ears, it just whipped its head round and bit me. It didn't indicate to me at all that it even might. At the time it was horrendous. Blood was spurting everywhere. It was a deep puncture, you can't even stitch them. We staunched the blood and wrapped it up and I finished off the judging of the class, disqualified the one that bit me, then went to the hospital.
(edit) Peter: (Commenting on the destroyed episodes from Doctor Who which he has narrated for a series of audio releases) I had forgotten most of the missing stories until Mark Ayres approached me to read the linking commentaries on the latest audio CD's, so I came to them quite fresh. I thought the scripts were great – and have always said that apart from the wonderful creation that was Bill's Doctor, the stories were script rather than character led. On revisiting the Massacre, I was overwhelmed by the quality of the writing. This was top class TV drama. And the Myth Makers was another favourite of mine. (Daleks Masterplan and Galaxy 4) were the poorest of the scripts, I felt, but it was a pleasure to remake them for an audience that can no longer see them. I think they make excellent radio plays. (edit) Peter: (On his start on Blue Peter) My position was that I arrived and nobody explained that I had been engaged as the heavy foil to his (John Noakes) action man. It would have made no difference as I still would have taken the job but I was a bit disappointed when I realised it. I would have liked a bit more of the action. (edit) Peter: (Talking about William Hartnell with whom he worked with on Doctor Who) Like most actors, I think Bill was pretty insecure, and also suffered from the fact that many of his contemporaries had better fortune than he – I think he had quite a lot of bitterness about that. He was also beginning to be ill, and that affected his memory, so as he got more and more lines wrong, he got more and more crotchety. He didn't suffer fools gladly, but I must say he was always very friendly to me, and tried to act as a kind of mentor. Many times he bought me lunch at the famed Bertorelli's restaurant on Shepherd's Bush Green (sadly no longer there),where he taught me to appreciate "Blue" fillet steak amongst other things. I really enjoyed working with him, but could see why others found him less pleasant. (edit) Peter: (On how he started doing pantomimes) It all started when Johnnie Noakes and I left Blue Peter. We were invited to do pantomime. Paul Elliott asked us to do Cinderella and it's the only opportunity I ever get to work in the theatre! And I've done it ever since. After the first two I started directing and I've directed over thirty now. This year I am directing Wendi Peters (Coronation Street) in Snow White. (edit)

Star
Blue Peter Himself (1967-1978)	Doctor Who Steven

Recurring Role
Children in Need Himself

Guest Star
19 Keys Celebrity Edition 1: Blue Peter Presenters Himself	Children in Need 2001 [2 Parts] Himself
Dixon of Dock Green Castles in the Air Brian	Doctor Who Flight through Eternity Morton Dill
Fun at the Funeral Parlour Marooned Various Roles	Light Lunch It's Mel's Birthday and She'll Invite Who She wants to Himself [Surprise Guest]