  michael sundin (1 march 1961 â 23 july 1989) was an english television presenter, actor, dancer and trampolinist, who is best remembered for his short time as a blue peter presenter (1984â85). ==early life and career== michael sundin was born in low fell, gateshead, tyne and wear. his parents were alan and joyce sundin, and he had a brother named david. after winning five british titles and one world title in british & world trampolining tournaments, he entered show business in 1980 when he appeared in the pantomime jack and the beanstalk, with barbara windsor. sundin made various television and theatre appearances, both as an actor and dancer, which led to a long run in the cameron mackintosh-produced musical cats, in which he played bill bailey in its west end run from 1982 until 1983. he appears in the video for culture club's i'll tumble 4 ya from 1982. in 1984, he began rehearsing the character tik-tok for the walt disney film return to oz, and this was covered by the long-running bbc children's magazine programme blue peter. sundin impressed the editor, biddy baxter, and was invited to audition for the presenting vacancy left by peter duncan; it was his fortune that one of the audition items was to interview someone on a trampoline, and he presented his first programme on 13 september 1984. after fronting 77 episodes, the editors and production team decided not to renew sundin's contract after the summer break, because they felt that he had little rapport with the viewers and it was claimed by the editor that some parents and children complained about his effeminacy.according to biddy baxter and edward barnes' book blue peter: the inside story (letchworth: ringpress, 1989, p.195) however, reports of his gay exploits (see below) are also rumoured to have been a factor. he presented his last show on 24 june 1985. sundin was very unhappy about this decision, and made his feelings known in the tabloid press. sundin subsequently appeared in the 1987 film lionheart (in w
1961_births 1989_deaths AIDS-related_deaths_in_England Blue_Peter_presenters Gay_actors LGBT_broadcasters LGBT_people_from_England