Here's One I Wrote Earlier: Peter Purves My Autobiography [Hardcover]

 

 

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Like so many others, I was a childhood viewer of Blue Peter and enthusiastically followed the adventures of Peter, John and Val. They were celebrities long before the word was invented - real and not contrived, open and happy to share with the viewer.

This book is similarly a refreshing change from that growing ghastly genre of the ghost written, all revealing celebrity 'autobiography'.

Here's a real bloke describing in a very human way his life, times and feelings. He does not claim to be a professional writer, choosing in true Blue Peter style simply to say it as he remembers it. All of the words here are clearly his own - none were prepared for him earlier.

If you want to find out what it was like to develop a very successful media career in the days when talent and hard work were the only way, you'll love this book.

Then perhaps you can follow his good example and make one at home!

Had really looked forward to reading this. Like so many other 40-somethings, "Blue Peter" played its role in my childhood, I watched twice a week without fail, I supported the appeals, read the annuals, won a "Blue Peter" (BP) badge. Purves' autobiography was not only going to take me back to those days but reveal more of the hidden and perhaps darker aspects of the programme, thus satisfying both the child AND the adult in me reading the book.

He makes a big point, at the beginning, of how he has never kept things, diaries, memories, and that a lot of what he will write is from a memory that he goes onto admit, hasn't really retained much of his past, BP included.

Then he goes on, in the most microscopic and exacting detail, at length, about his days in rep, page after page, recalling plays, co-stars, venues, where he went on holiday, and who with, the cars, the houses, the meals...and if that isn't all total recall, then I don't know what is!

His treatment of his time in "Dr Who" is similar, you anticipate a brief memory or recollection here and there (expecially as recordings and thus evidence of old "Dr Who" episodes are scarce to non existent), but no, co-stars, scripts, sets, various aliens and their dastardly ways are all revisited with the same exacting attention to detail, and, interesting as it is, you soon find yourself the long time fan of the rock band who are plugging all of their new stuff, you want the old classics and you want them NOW!

A little unfair perhaps, as it is an autobiography, not a BP book (and isn't the jacket oh-so-cheesy, its like the front of a brochure promoting life insurance for the over fifties-safe, warm, non-threatening)so one must wade through the minutiae in order to get to the good stuff and yes, you do, eventually, after learning about another car he bought, or how he bought and "did up" another flat in Richmond, get on with it man!

And its OK. Nothing too revealing, nothing shocking. They went to Ceylon. It was hot. They washed elephants. They're really big. Then they went to Mexico. It was hot there as well. John Noakes was not really like his on screen persona. What, REALLY? And, of course, theres Lulu the elephant. Hmmm.

Its very much "we did this, then we did this, and did you remember when we did THAT, well, guess what...?" And it dribbles to the time he left the programme and details what he has done since, from "Kickstart" (which he seems to think was pure TV gold, up there with "Life On Earth"), through Crufts and onto the training films he co-produces now, and which he was happy, I seem to recall, to 'contribute' a spoof one to "The Office"-that doesn't get a mention, incidentally!

Its OK. Dull but worthy I suppose. I hope that John Noakes' book, which is anticipated, will be a little more, well, interesting. I suspect it will, and, if you want to learn more about BP, suggest you refer to Richard Marson's excellent book about the programme, which is also available on Amazon.

So yes, like that meal. You looked forward to it, you wanted it, you bought it, you didn't feel as hungry as you thought you were whilst you were eating it-and by the time you'd finished, you really rather wish you hadn't waded through it in the first place.

As an avid viewer of children's television programme Blue Peter in the late sixties and early seventies my impression of Peter Purves was that he was a decent chap somewhat overshadowed by his fellow presenter John Noakes, who was a daredevil, try-anything-once, larger-than-life sort of character. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that doesn't seem to be Purves's own perception of himself.

As other reviewers have commented, parts of the book are quite mundane and would be of more interest to Peter's friends and family than a wider audience. For me, the most interesting part of the book, apart from his account of his time with Blue Peter, is the story of his early acting days in provincial repertory theatre: he paints a convincing picture of the relentless pressure of rehearsals and performances, balanced by some off-duty fun.

He has had a varied career (unlike some other celebrities he admits that he's been lucky) and an active social and personal life. He admits to several affairs (presumably whilst married) including a brief fling with Valerie Singleton. Mr Purves seems to be a more colourful character than I'd previously thought!

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3.0 out of 5 stars Strictly for the fans1
Most people buying this book would be Blue Peter fans...for anyone else it would be a case of Peter Who? Read more

Published on 21 Jun 2009 by Paul

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Purves. Heres one I wrote earlier.
Fantastic book. I brought as a birthday present for my fiance and he hasn't put it down hes totally glued to it.

Published on 19 April 2009 by D. Shelley

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best...
A very easy read, but one fairly littered with inaccuracies, not least with regards to his time on Doctor Who! Read more

Published on 7 April 2009 by Cult King

2.0 out of 5 stars Here's one I rushed off earlier..
Peter Purves was close to being a boyhood hero of mine: I watched Blue Peter with my brothers and loved it from the age of about 5 to 14 (1969-1978, almost exactly Purves' span)... Read more

Published on 1 April 2009 by R. Kay

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