1985. Television: Blue Peter drops gay presenter
There have been a number of cute male presenters on Britain’s longest running children’s show Blue Peter. But Michael Sundin was, in my view, by far and away the cutest.
Sadly, he’s better known as one of the shortest-serving presenters, appearing from September 1984 to June 1985.
The debate continues to this day as to whether he was sacked because of his sexuality or because he wasn’t liked by the viewers.
In the book Blue Peter: The Inside Story, producer Biddy Baxter claims that it was all down to “having little rapport with children watching the programme…every new post brought evidence that Michael was getting a huge thumbs-down.”
Michael himself clearly disagreed with that assessment and gave a number of interviews to newspapers claiming that the programme was too staid and that he was never given a chance.
His case wasn’t helped, however, when the Daily Mirror printed ‘revealing’ photos of him in October of that year. These photos showed him dancing in his undies with a male stripper at the Hippodrome club in London. The fact that these had been taken before his Blue Peter days seemed irrelevant and the Mirror also seemed keen to make a point by describing his actions as ‘participation in a gay sex show’.
Subsequent rumours suggested that he had also – briefly – been a rent boy at some time in the past. However, Blue Peter producers continue to deny that this played any part in his sacking, despite another producer – Edward Barnes – describing him in Blue Peter: The Inside Story as “a whinger – and an effeminate whinger to boot”.
Thankfully, despite the controversy and the usual tabloid distortion, Michael did continue to find work in the industry until his death from an AIDS-related illness in 1989.
No mention was made of his death on Blue Peter. However, when another presenter, Caron Keating, died in 2004 a special segment was added to the show. In this her fellow presenters paid tribute and clips of her earlier appearances were shown.
Sundin unfortunately is one who seems to have gotten a bum rap as far as his legacy goes.
There is a clip of him on YouTube doing a Blue Peter interview — and he doesn’t seem half bad. He was from the north, so he obviously didn’t have the London accent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y_MF2joCw4
And he had talent. There is also a vid of him there in a TV musical dance number from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75B3Pm-ihU0
Young actors without older mentors seem doomed for failure. Michael’s problems started in 1985 — around the time that Rock Hudson died of AIDS — when public fear and hysteria was soaring.
Wonder if he palled around with any of those other BBC “shorties” of the time — Matthew Waterhouse and Simon Gipps-Kent.
This is an accurate article EXCEPT for the last paragraph. A tribute was paid to him on BP after he had died.
Thanks Mike; I’m happy to hear that. Colin
He was a great guy taken far to young love him to bits lola x
I am in the age group that watched Blue Peter during this period. I don’t recall him as being one of my favourite presenters. He always seemed wooden to me at the time. Although it never occurred to me to take the step of writing into complain.
I too remember his death being mentioned on the programme. I thought he’d died of cancer for many years. Although I notice that his Wikipedia article mentions his family didn’t want it to be known he’d died if AIDS.
In many respects it is a pity that he was not given the chance to try out other types of programmes.
I was visiting a partner of a friend of mine who was on a ward at St Marys Hospital, Paddington.
This handsome young man joined us and asked if we would like to see his book of newspaper clippings and reviews.
It was only then that I realised it was Mr Sundin. I found him utterley charming and very handsome. It is one of my treasured memorys. A very nice young man.
I think it was so tragic that someone obviously so talented and nice should have been taken from us at only 28 years of age. How horribly cruel!
*Caren Keating died in 2004 …. not 1984 as stated above
Thanks Neil. Date corrected.
Regards
Colin
Michael Sundin was a role model for me as a gay lad growing up in the ’80s. Still remembered RIP xxx
Me too. Michael was the right presenter at the wrong time in my opinion. The 1980’s were a very cruel time for gay people. The government created fear and loathing of the gay community with their frightening and over-the-top AIDS “information” campaigns. Michael was a complete inspiration to me and I will never forget him. R.I.P Michael Sundin.
Michael was a really great guy and super fit medal winning trampolinist whose life was cut short too early.
Although the fact that the cancer that took him was AIDS related was not discussed at the time unless you lived through the eighties you can how no idea of the anti gay prejudice and rhetoric of the era.
I attended his funeral in Gateshead with the renowned writer Michael Wilcox and many of Michael Sundin’s friends. Michael Wilcox mentions it in his book “Outlaw in The Hills.”
Having known Michael since he was seventeen I put no credence in the “rumours” that he had one been a rent boy. Rubbish!
The best wOrd to describe Michael was bubbly.
He was a handsome man who had been working in the theatrical business since sixteen.
He had a really engaging personality and was friendly, gregarious, helpful and kind.
His mistake was to fall for someone he had met in America at a time when nobody was aware of the dreadful disease that was emerging.
His problem was compounded by the viscous homophobia and discrimination that existed In the 1980s.
A truly lovely guy taken far too soon.
Thank you for this insight David. Colin
Poor Michael Sundin was a sad victim of 1980s homophobia/Aids hysteria! Nasty…
I was watching. He was a shit presenter.