For the 2003/2004 Xmas season Peter directed his 27th commercial pantomime, Cinderella at The Cliffs Pavilion, Southend. This is one of Peter's favourite venues, in spite of the difficulties in staging big shows there, because of the lack of depth and height on the stage. But Cinderella this year was a huge success, beating the records of Peter's previous shows there. One of the reasons for this was the show's stars. The Chuckle Brothers. They are first class, old-fashioned, northern comics. Their timing is perfection, and the rapport with the audience unparallelled. Add to that a wonderful stage crew, who believe in the show as much as Peter does, and a supporting cast that was a delight to work with, little wonder Peter felt it was perhaps the best pantomime he has ever directed. "They just seem to get better each year, and become all the more pleasurable to work on," he says.

Here are some of the reviews from the show, and from last years show, Aladdin at The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

"The Panto's great strength was the Chuckle Brothers.....Paul and Barry made the most of audience quips, and the laughs and fun really flow. Add in the excellent staging and spectacle held together by director Peter Purves, who is surely one of the best in the panto business. He made the very best use of the Pavilion's large but difficult shallow stage, and provided a show to laugh at and visibly (sic) enjoy, with a particularly effective transformation scene."

"This Cinderella looks like ensuring a Good financial Christmas for the theatre."

"Under the direction of Peter Purves it is a finely balanced show that moves along at just the right pace. Topped off with spectacular sets and stunning costumes, it is a sumptuous affair that hits the mark on all counts."

"Aladdin (has) stunning sets, lavish costumes, powerful genies, a beautiful Princess, and a Chinese Laundry. It is definitely THE place for chuckling this Christmas."

"The children were kept amused for all of the two and a half hour performance - no mean feat - and the audience was left calling for more. Oh yes they were!"

Peter began acting at an early age - his first role at the age of nine was The Pied Piper of Hamelin. The following year he played the title role in Robin Hood and then Alan Breck in Kidnapped
His first professional role was in repertory during school holidays at the age of 17 as Sheriff in The Rainmaker (1957, Her Majesty's Theatre, Barrow in Furness). He played one other part during that summer before going on to train for two years as a maths teacher! But teaching wasn't the life for Peter and he returned to Barrow in 1961 as a permanent member of the company.

Spending two years learning his trade in weekly rep. (that's performing a new play every week) he appeared in 96 plays playing everything from Malvolio in Twelfth Night to leading roles in the Whitehall Farces. He describes his time in Barrow as the hardest work, the most fun and the least money he has ever had in his life.

Leaving Barrow to try his luck in London his first job was to play the Doctor in Witness for the Prosecution at the Wimbledon Theatre. He followed that with a three-month spell in the chorus in the Charlie Drake vehicle, Man in the Moon at the London Palladium. He recalls it "was a total disaster from day one until it came off nine months earlier than scheduled".

Even during his years on Blue Peter, Peter still made occasional appearances on stage, including two Children's Royal Variety Performances. Then in 1978 came his first commercial pantomime, Cinderella at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford with John Noakes and Bonnie Langford. It was in this show that Peter first met his wife, Kathryn, who was playing Dandini. The show broke all box office records and laid the foundation for his appearing in or directing over 25 pantomimes.

Following on from his record breaking success last year directing Hale and Pace in Dick Whittington at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion, Peter will direct The Chuckle Brothers in Aladdin at Stoke's Regent Theatre this year. It will be his 26th pantomime as director or performer.

Peter is a member of the board of The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich which successfully re-opened in February 2001.