11th September 1980 to 18th June 1984
9th September 1985 to 27th November 1986

Born: 3rd May 1954

Presented with Simon Groom, Sarah Greene, Janet Ellis and Mark Curry.

Born in London, Peter worked as actor from the age of fifteen. He joined the National Theatre at seventeen, made several films including Stardust and Quilp, and appeared in many TV series including King Cinder, Sons and Lovers and Space 1999.

His most famous role came just before he joined Blue Peter in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. He played 'Young Treeman', a character that met with a grisly death - having his hand bitten off by an alien critter.

Peter soon became the action man of the team, in the John Noakes mould. Among his most famous feats was running the first London marathon and completing the Royal Marines' Endurance Course.

During his stint the production office received a number of complaints from parents about his scruffy image. In response, a 'design Peter an outfit' competition was launched - with a green and white checked suit the winner.

Peter left in June 1984 to film Duncan Dares, a series that capitalised on his derring-do image. On his last show he was reacquainted with Prince, Goldie's puppy, who he had helped train to be a guide dog, and many of the people he had worked with over the years. He was also given the alien that had attacked him in Flash Gordon, and a photo album of his time with the show.

But that was not the last we were to see of Peter - he returned for a second stint when Michael Sundin left. Alongside Simon Groom and Janet Ellis, it was like he'd never been away.

Peter left for the last time in November 1986 and returned to acting, most notably, playing the title role in the musicals Barnum and Me and My Girl. In 1995 was nominated for an Olivier as Best Actor for his role in the musical The Card. He also has his own production company and produced a stage version of Erik the Viking in 1993.

He and his wife Annie have four children and they all have been seen backpacking the world in the TV series Travel Bug and Chinese Breakaway.

Peter has been seen in many of the Blue Peter Quest series and in 2004 was made Chief Scout of the UK's half a million scouts.

Top Blue Peter moment: Running the first London marathon.