Peter Duncan's Daft and Dangerous

Review by Marthe Lamp Sandvik | 20 Aug 2009

Former Blue Peter host and actor Peter Duncan visits the Fringe this year with his (almost) one man show, inviting people of all ages into his world of costumes and memories, of his own life on stage and screen, and of times gone by. Bringing members of the audience up on stage, he creates a warm and companionable atmosphere that's light-years away from the the bothersome piss-taking that constitutes audience interaction in a lot of other comedy shows.

Slapstick has something of a reputation for being boring and outdated, but its used frequently here and often has the audience in stitches. An unplanned highlight of the evening this reviewer was present, was the sight of two male volunteers dressed as ‘Daisy the Cow’ falling over and being absolutely unable to get back up – much to the audience's delight.

Even considering that Duncan has led a more interesting life than most, talking about nothing but yourself for an hour of stage time could seem a bit arrogant. But it's testament to how engaging the whole thing is that it only occurs to you about halfway through the performance that that's what Duncan is doing. The show has no specific point or climax, but Duncan's warm personality, soothing BBC tones and gentle wit will pull you through; and you might even get a packet of Maltesers. All in all it's a pleasant early-evening diversion for adults and kids alike.

Read our event preview for Peter Duncan's Daft and Dangerous