The panto may be over for Peter but he’s as busy as ever as he tells Katherine MacAlister

Peter Duncan’s reign at the Oxford Playhouse if over.

The panto king is no more, meaning that after nine years at the festive helm, he has been forced to pass the baton onto someone else. “No more panto I’m afraid,” he acknowledges.

But instead of licking his wounds, the 61 year-old has bounced straight back, first in TV’s acrobatic reality show Tumble where he did extremely well, then in WW1 drama Birdsong, and now in massive West End musical Hairspray which is pitching up at Oxford’s New Theatre from Monday.

So how does it feel to be back? I’m very attached to Oxford, of course I am, having done the panto there.

“But I had a lovely time and this is a perfectly natural progression. It’s the way the world works.

“So it’s nice to be doing something different now, something all consuming, and to be part of a big ensemble like Hairspray with slightly less responsibility.

“And I’m working with people who can act, dance and sing, and boy they can dance,” Peter laughs.

“Plus there’s a big orchestra, so they are a wonderfully talented cast and we have a real laugh even though I’m three times their age, but I haven’t disgraced myself yet,” he promises.

Hairspray is set in Baltimore in 1962 and features Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, on a mission to dance her way onto national television.

It also addresses body issues and racism.

So is he enjoying it?

“Absolutely, although I have to remember I’m not in charge,” he laughs But once I passed 60 I started celebrating and trying out new things, like this, The Games on Channel 4 and Tumble where I competed against athletes and boxers, so I was pretty pleased. It doesn’t do you any harm, these high profile shows,” he smiles.

Back in the day, Peter Duncan burst onto our screens on kids’ TV show Blue Peter aged 27. His parents ran a travelling show which pitched up in seaside towns around the country, so Peter grew up on the road.

“My mum was a singer and we were always performing in Blackpool or Brighton. I think that’s where my love of panto comes from.

“I grew up surrounded by men dressed as women while I crouched in the wings in my cot or pram looking up at the lights and feeling connected.

“But it did mean I went from school to school which put me in good stead for touring,” he laughs. “It meant I had no fear of the world anyway so I’m quite relaxed.

“I’m just grateful my career is still going strong.”

SEE IT
Hairspray comes to Oxford’s New Theatre from September 21-28.
Call the box office on 0844 871 3020 or see atgtickets.com/oxford