Michael Sundin

Michael Sundin was an English actor puppeteer dancer and champion trampolinist from Low Fell Gateshead He gained prominence as a presenter on the childrens program Blue Peter from 1984 to 1985 a role that ended in controversial circumstances Early Career and Acrobatics Sundin initially excelled as a trampolinist reportedly winning five British and one world title He transitioned to show business making his stage debut in the 1980 Christmas pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk His blend of acting and acrobatic skill led him to a significant role in the musical Cats 1981 from 1982 to 1983 where he portrayed the athletic kitten Bill Bailey The musical was based on T S Eliots poetry collection Old Possums Book of Practical Cats 1939 Return to Oz and Blue Peter In 1984 Sundin was hired as the insuit performer for the dark fantasy film Return to Oz 1985 a loose adaptation of L Frank Baums novels The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz He embodied the main character the sentient robot TikTok operating the body while Tim Rose handled the head and Sean Barrett provided the voice While preparing for this highprofile film role producer Biddy Baxter invited him to audition for Blue Peter Sundin was successful and replaced Peter Duncan with his debut episode airing in September 1984 Controversial Departure Sundins time on Blue Peter concluded in late June 1985 when his contract was not renewed The official reason given was a lack of rapport with the viewers However Baxter also cited complaints from parents and viewers that Sundin was too effeminate Sundin had recently been outed in the press as a gay man leading to widespread speculation that his sexuality was the true undeclared reason for his firing sparking a tabloid controversy over perceived discrimination Baxter later maintained that he was dismissed solely because children didnt like him PostBlue Peter Film Roles and Death Following Return to Oz Sundin appeared as the March Hare in the drama film Dreamchild 1985 which juxtaposed the elderly Alice Liddells memories with hallucinations of Wonderland characters His final film appearance was in the adventure film Lionheart 1987 Sundin fell ill in 1988 and was hospitalized the following year He died in July 1989 at the Newcastle General Hospital Newcastle upon Tyne at the age of 28 He was the first Blue Peter presenter to pass away Though initial press reports attributed his death to liver cancer later reports indicated that Michael Sundin had contracted HIVAIDS and succumbed to the infection