{"id":88,"date":"2018-09-04T16:23:35","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T15:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2023-04-10T14:13:01","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T13:13:01","slug":"current-activities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/current-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"> A Bit into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>I am happy to announce that I am<\/strong> <strong>going to be working with my old friend, Colin Baker in &#8220;A Christmas Carol&#8221;in December 2023.  It is a short tour, and dates will be posted in due course.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"727\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-727x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-727x1024.jpg 727w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-768x1081.jpg 768w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-1091x1536.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-1455x2048.jpg 1455w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5-1200x1689.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/A-Christmas-Carol-A5.jpg 1751w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 727px) 85vw, 727px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-bright-red-color\">March  20th 2023 <\/mark>     Not a lot happening at present -I have had a bad fall at home, and have broken my wrist in two places.  Updates on &#8220;Henry House&#8221; will follow in due course.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>January 2023.<\/strong> I <strong>am pleased to announce that in January 2023, I have been cast as the co-lead, Paul, in the new Care-home drama, Henry House, produced by Rocking Horse Media Entertainment. The series is planned for the end of 2023.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Poster-shot-240x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Poster-shot-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Poster-shot-820x1024.png 820w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Poster-shot-768x959.png 768w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Poster-shot.png 961w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 240px) 85vw, 240px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The pilot is currently being filmed at Derwen College in Gobowen, Shropshire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The premise for the opening episodes is that Paul is the new dementia resident at Henry House Care Home, who forms an unlikely friendship with Izzy,&nbsp; the receptionist, who has been, against all the odds, appointed, whilst seeming to be totally unsuited for the job. Drama and comedy ensue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Izzy, Paul&#8217;s co-star, is played by newcomer \u00d3rla Jones, a splendid actress with whom I have already formed a strong working relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"TV Legend Signs on to Care Home Drama Series at Christmas\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jpmHG4qDYAk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-240\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Paul.-214x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-240\" width=\"268\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Paul.-214x300.png 214w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Paul.-731x1024.png 731w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Paul.-768x1076.png 768w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HH-Paul..png 914w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 268px) 85vw, 268px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peter Purves as Paul<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Three colleagues of mine, all of whom have appeared in Dr Who, are also involved. Simon Fisher-Becker, Colin Spaull, and Annette Badland.&nbsp; More details about the cast can be found on the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/rockinghorsemedia.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rockinghorsemedia.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Henry House is written and directed by Gareth Owain David Thomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will keep you posted as the filming progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">The Queen&#8217;s Jubilee Pageant<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second<\/strong>&#8216;s Platinum Jubilee Celebration was the highlight of 2022.  I was honoured to be asked to travel on the 1960&#8217;s bus in the Pageant procession, where I was accompanied by <strong>Valerie Singleton, Peter Duncan, Basil Brush, William Roache, Tony Blackburn<\/strong>, <strong>Angela Turner <\/strong>amongst others from the era. A fine time was had by all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"708\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-06-06-at-9.56.40-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-06-06-at-9.56.40-AM.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-06-06-at-9.56.40-AM-300x207.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-06-06-at-9.56.40-AM-768x531.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the view of the Royal box from our bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"814\" height=\"528\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screenshot-2023-03-30-at-15.22.58.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screenshot-2023-03-30-at-15.22.58.png 814w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screenshot-2023-03-30-at-15.22.58-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screenshot-2023-03-30-at-15.22.58-768x498.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 814px) 85vw, 814px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<p><strong>My most recent venture in the Theatre<\/strong> has been to appear in<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span><b>\u201cOnce Seen on Blue Peter\u201d<\/b> &#8211; a play by Tim Whitnall, at the <b>Edinburgh Fringe 2018<\/b> where it received <b>5 star reviews. <\/b><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;(see Theatre)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In March 2018 I celebrated my 40th Anniversary as presenter and Commentator at the World\u2019s Greatest Dog Show, Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham where i was presented with a magnificent cake (I doubt it will ever get eaten!!!).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91\" width=\"299\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-1.jpg 362w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 299px) 85vw, 299px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As usual, my colleagues were Dr Jessica Holm (would you believe we have worked together on the show for 26 years), Frank Kane, Jim Rosenthal and Graham Partridge, with Clare Balding holding it all together in the studio. It was most enjoyable again, with a super Whippet taking best in Show, with a wonderful Pointer as Reserve. (I have to admit that I was hoping the beautiful Newfoundland youngster from the Working Group would take the trophy, but it wasn\u2019t to be!). The fun events in the main arena were as entertaining as ever, with an almost perfect performance from the winner of the International Freestyle&nbsp;Heelwork to music competition. All of these events can be found on the Crufts dedicated YouTube Channel, if you would like to catch up. Channel 4 did us proud again, but you can watch all of the principal events and the group Judging in its entirety also on You Tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>had a second 40th birthday to celebrate in March when i went to Belton House (a National Trust estate in Lincolnshire) where, in March 1978 I had opened the newly designed \u201cJungleland\u201d Playground. It has been recently developed further and i was invited back this March, to cut the 40th birthday cake. It was a real honour and a most enjoyable day.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92\" width=\"385\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-2.jpg 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 385px) 85vw, 385px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Speaking of the National trust, I was invited to appear in two episodes of Ch5\u2019s series \u201cThe Secrets of the NT\u201d. My contribution was about some tapestries made by Mary Queen of Scots that were on display at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk; and a second appearance telling the story of the original hydro-electric scheme to provide electricity at Castle Drogo in Devon ( the last castle to be built in the UK).Both were transmitted in early 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was also re-engaged to host the Dog Arena at the 4 day show, Countryfile Live South, at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, and also at Countryfile Live North at Castle Howard in Yorkshire. I had hosted the Arena at the inaugural show in 2016, and I hope to be &nbsp;invited back in August 2020. &nbsp;We hope for good weather, always unpredictable in the UK, but whatever the weather it is a splendid Show, with the Dog Arena being just one of many exciting Countryfile events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having missed the Annual Suffolk Dog day in 2018 because of my involvement at the Edinburgh Festival, I was back again in 2019, and look forward to the show in 2020. Over Half a million pounds haas been raised for the Suffolk Foundation during the 12 years of the show&#8217;s existence. Other big outdoor shows in 2019 have been the Three Day Show at Malvern, and the Malvern Autumn Show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were some very interesting celebratory events for the 60th Anniversary of Blue Peter &#8211; this amazing programme began life back in October 1958. I attended the live transmission of the show at Salford Quays on October 16th, managed to get a word or two in the show at the beginning, and was involved with the film of the Blue Peter Time Capsule being deposited in the National Archive at Kew in West London. A wonderful day. Massive following and praise for the show on Twitter and facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Big Finish continues to provide me with wonderful scripts of new Doctor Who stories. I think we may have finished all of the Companion Chronicles, but the new series of \u201cThe early Adventures\u201d is allowing us to explore new areas. The writers are brilliant, and Maureen O\u2019Brien and i completed two more in January 2018 &#8211; I think that means i have starred in 28 original audio productions &#8211; They are such a pleasure to work on, and the production values are outstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Doctor Who events continue to come round. In November 2016 I was invited to Long Island Who in New York, and where I was privileged to escort 53 fans of the show to the top of the Empire State Building. (This was a nod to my first appearance in the show in 1965, as Morton Dill, a tourist from Alabama visiting New York and where he had an interesting encounter with the Doctor and his then companions, Vikki, Ian and Barbara, and after them The Daleks.) We all had a wonderful time, and the people i met there were a joy. I have to thank my friend Howard Hayes, pictured here with me on the observation platform, and the showrunner Ken Deep, for making me so welcome. the second picture is of me and Anneke Wills speaking at the convention.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-3-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-93\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-3-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-3.jpg 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-4-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-94\" width=\"310\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-4-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-4.jpg 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 310px) 85vw, 310px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Also in November 2016 I visited the Dr Who convention in Chicago, and followed that in January and February 2017 with the Gallifrey Convention in Los Angeles, and Regenerations in Baltimore. All three events were memorable, and i was lucky enough to take advantage of the los Angeles trip to take a few days off in Arizona to meet with my old buddy Rick Jones, he of the BBC\u2019s Play School, Fingerbobs and that great \u201970\u2019s London pub and club band, Meal Ticket. (Check out their three re-released Albums.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arizona was a lovely experience &#8211; wide open spaces, Cowboy country, as I think the following picture illustrates. Rick had taken me on the Arizona trail. Just imagine the early pioneers in that landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-5-300x94.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-95\" width=\"471\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-5-300x94.jpg 300w, https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/current-activities-5.jpg 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 471px) 85vw, 471px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Back in the UK there are a few Doctor Who related events to record. In February, Emma Freud and Richard Curtis asked me to join SEVEN Doctors for breakfast with some Charity Auction winners, raising money for Comic Relief. The auction for the prize of dining with the 7 Doctors (with me as guest waiter) raised over \u00a3800K!! The meal was taken at the Wolseley (next to the Ritz) in London\u2019s Piccadilly. Five doctors, Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Matt Smith, David Tennant, Sylvester McCoy were at the table, plus Peter Capaldi and Paul McGann who appeared \u201clive\u201d via Skype on a couple of iPads. Legendary or what? It was a huge success and everyone had a great time. The food was fantastic, too!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I shall be attending Doctor Who signings in Manchester and Lincoln in April, plus Cardiff in May, and have also just filmed an episode of a series on YouTube called Bitesize Who, which is a skit\/parody\/sketch roughly based on my first Doctor Who serial from 1965, The Time Meddler. It is amazing to think how enduring Doctor who has been in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many years ago I had the privilege of driving the APT &#8211; the Advanced Passenger Train, which tilted into corners, making the ride incredibly smooth &#8211; just before the Government scrapped the project. Consequently I recently took part in a documentary highlighting the APT and the BT 125 which will be shown on Channel 5 in the late Spring 2018. It brought back some interesting memories, not least the British Transport safety films I made in the late \u201970\u2019s, including Robbie which was all about trespass on the railway and its possible consequences. Robbie, a keen and excellent footballer, lost his legs on the tracks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Railways: Robbie (British Transport Films) - 1979 Version\" width=\"840\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WxXDw3WOGQs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I have also recorded two segments for Secrets of the National Trust for Channel 5 last month &#8211; transmission in the spring &#8211; The VWorp gathering on November 25th in Manchester was postponed until February 2019. Feet up for Xmas now. Lovely!.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Bit into the future. I am happy to announce that I am going to be working with my old friend, Colin Baker in &#8220;A Christmas Carol&#8221;in December 2023. It is a short tour, and dates will be posted in due course. March 20th 2023 Not a lot happening at present -I have had a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/current-activities\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Current Activities&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":430,"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88\/revisions\/430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peterpurves.net\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}