Michael Sundin (1 March 1961 – 23 July 1989) was an English television presenter, actor, dancer and trampolinist. He was a presenter of the BBC children's programme Blue Peter for 77 episodes between 1984 and 1985.
Michael Sundin was born in Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. His parents were Alan and Joyce Sundin, and he had a brother named David.
After winning five British titles and one world title in British & World Trampolining tournaments, he entered show business in 1980 when he appeared in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, with Barbara Windsor. Sundin made various television and theatre appearances, both as an actor and dancer, which led to a long run in the Cameron Mackintosh-produced musical Cats, in which he played Bill Bailey in its West End run from 1982 until 1983. He also appeared in the video for Culture Club's I'll Tumble 4 Ya from 1982.
In 1984, he began rehearsing the character Tik-Tok for the Walt Disney film Return to Oz, and this was covered by the long-running BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter. Sundin impressed the editor, Biddy Baxter, and was invited to audition for the presenting vacancy left by Peter Duncan; one of the audition items was to interview someone on a trampoline, and he presented his first programme on 13 September 1984.
After fronting 77 episodes, the editors and production team for Blue Peter decided not to renew Sundin's contract following the summer break, because they felt that he had little rapport with the viewers and it was claimed by the editor that some parents and children complained about his effeminacy.[1] However, coverage in the press of him as a gay man was also rumoured to have been a factor. He presented his last show on 24 June 1985. Sundin was very unhappy about this decision, and made his feelings known in the tabloid press.[citation needed] Four months later, a response occurred through the printing of photographs of Sundin dancing with a male stripper in London.[2]
In 2007 the former editor of Blue PeterBiddy Baxter was interviewed by journalist Mark Lawson,[3] transmitted as part of BBC Four's Children’s TV on Trial week of programmes. For the first time on television, Baxter was confronted about the departure of Sundin. In the interview Baxter blamed the press for the inaccurate coverage of Sundin's sacking from the programme because of his sexuality. In previous documentaries and programmes Baxter had avoided addressing such questions about Sundin's involvement in the programme. In the interview she denied that he had been sacked due to his sexuality and said that "It was his leaving the programme because children didn’t like him – nothing to do with his sexual proclivities".
In 1988, Sundin fell ill. At the age of 28, he died in the Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne. The Times newspaper reported (on 26 July 1989) that he had died of liver cancer. It was later reported that he died from an AIDS- related illness.[4] He was the first former Blue Peter presenter to die.
^According to Biddy Baxter and Edward Barnes' book Blue Peter: The Inside Story (Letchworth: Ringpress, 1989, p.195)
^Refer to Tim Latchem (16 March 2007). "Blue Peter: The Dark Side". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 January 2008. Which states "The one-time world trampoline champion was sacked after further details of his gay lifestyle emerged."
^Mark Lawson Talks to Biddy Baxter (BBC Four, 31.05.07, dir. David Thompson)
^"BLUE PETER: THE DARK SIDE". mirror. 16 March 2007.
Michael Sundin Blue Peter segment with The Tripods cast (17 September 1984) on YouTube
Michael Sundin Blue Peter segment interview/tour at Elton John's home (May, 1985) on YouTube
Michael Sundin Seven Brides for Seven Brothers UK Tour TV Special Segment (1980s) on YouTube
March 17, 2024
michael, sundin, march, 1961, july, 1989, english, television, presenter, actor, dancer, trampolinist, presenter, children, programme, blue, peter, episodes, between, 1984, 1985, born, 1961, march, 1961low, fell, gateshead, tyne, wear, englanddied23, july, 198. Michael Sundin 1 March 1961 23 July 1989 was an English television presenter actor dancer and trampolinist He was a presenter of the BBC children s programme Blue Peter for 77 episodes between 1984 and 1985 Michael SundinBorn 1961 03 01 1 March 1961Low Fell Gateshead Tyne and Wear EnglandDied23 July 1989 1989 07 23 aged 28 Newcastle General Hospital Newcastle upon Tyne EnglandOccupationsTelevision presenteractordancertrampolinistYears active1980 1989 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Death 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career editMichael Sundin was born in Low Fell Gateshead Tyne and Wear His parents were Alan and Joyce Sundin and he had a brother named David After winning five British titles and one world title in British amp World Trampolining tournaments he entered show business in 1980 when he appeared in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk with Barbara Windsor Sundin made various television and theatre appearances both as an actor and dancer which led to a long run in the Cameron Mackintosh produced musical Cats in which he played Bill Bailey in its West End run from 1982 until 1983 He also appeared in the video for Culture Club s I ll Tumble 4 Ya from 1982 In 1984 he began rehearsing the character Tik Tok for the Walt Disney film Return to Oz and this was covered by the long running BBC children s magazine programme Blue Peter Sundin impressed the editor Biddy Baxter and was invited to audition for the presenting vacancy left by Peter Duncan one of the audition items was to interview someone on a trampoline and he presented his first programme on 13 September 1984 After fronting 77 episodes the editors and production team for Blue Peter decided not to renew Sundin s contract following the summer break because they felt that he had little rapport with the viewers and it was claimed by the editor that some parents and children complained about his effeminacy 1 However coverage in the press of him as a gay man was also rumoured to have been a factor He presented his last show on 24 June 1985 Sundin was very unhappy about this decision and made his feelings known in the tabloid press citation needed Four months later a response occurred through the printing of photographs of Sundin dancing with a male stripper in London 2 In 2007 the former editor of Blue Peter Biddy Baxter was interviewed by journalist Mark Lawson 3 transmitted as part of BBC Four s Children s TV on Trial week of programmes For the first time on television Baxter was confronted about the departure of Sundin In the interview Baxter blamed the press for the inaccurate coverage of Sundin s sacking from the programme because of his sexuality In previous documentaries and programmes Baxter had avoided addressing such questions about Sundin s involvement in the programme In the interview she denied that he had been sacked due to his sexuality and said that It was his leaving the programme because children didn t like him nothing to do with his sexual proclivities Sundin subsequently appeared in the film Lionheart 1987 in which he was incorrectly credited as Michel Sundin From 1987 88 he was in a UK theatre tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and a Japanese Australian tour of Starlight Express citation needed One of his final public appearances was as a dancer in the video for Rick Astley s She Wants to Dance With Me 1988 Death editIn 1988 Sundin fell ill At the age of 28 he died in the Newcastle General Hospital Newcastle upon Tyne The Times newspaper reported on 26 July 1989 that he had died of liver cancer It was later reported that he died from an AIDS related illness 4 He was the first former Blue Peter presenter to die Filmography editYear Title Role Notes1983 Forever Young PeterThe Cleopatras Dancer Episode 35 BC 1984 1985 Blue Peter Host Recurring role 77 episodes 1984 Danger Marmalade at Work Billy Episode Shame 1985 Return to Oz Tik Tok In suit performer The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue Archive footageThe Saturday Picture Show HimselfDreamchild March Hare1986 Artists and Models Model Episode Men and Wild Horses 1987 Lionheart BertramReferences edit According to Biddy Baxter and Edward Barnes book Blue Peter The Inside Story Letchworth Ringpress 1989 p 195 Refer to Tim Latchem 16 March 2007 Blue Peter The Dark Side Daily Mirror Retrieved 22 January 2008 Which states The one time world trampoline champion was sacked after further details of his gay lifestyle emerged Mark Lawson Talks to Biddy Baxter BBC Four 31 05 07 dir David Thompson BLUE PETER THE DARK SIDE mirror 16 March 2007 External links editMichael Sundin at IMDb Michael Sundin BBC Retrieved 18 April 2008 Michael Sundin Blue Peter segment with The Tripods cast 17 September 1984 on YouTube Michael Sundin Blue Peter segment interview tour at Elton John s home May 1985 on YouTube Michael Sundin Seven Brides for Seven Brothers UK Tour TV Special Segment 1980s on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Sundin amp oldid 1186769231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
