Michael Sundin was a multi-talented English performer, born in Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Before his television career, Sundin gained recognition as a champion trampolinist, winning five British titles and one world title. He then pursued a career in show business, making his stage debut in a 1980 production of "Jack and the Beanstalk".
Sundin's subsequent work included acting and dancing roles. From 1982 to 1983, he played the acrobatic kitten Bill Bailey in the musical "Cats", based on T.S. Eliot's poetry collection "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". He also portrayed the sentient robot Tik-Tok in the dark fantasy film "Return to Oz", which was a loose adaptation of L. Frank Baum's fantasy novels.
Sundin's television career began when he was hired as an in-suit performer for "Return to Oz". During this time, he attracted significant press attention, which led to an invitation to audition for the popular children's program "Blue Peter". Sundin successfully auditioned and replaced Peter Duncan as a presenter, making his debut in September 1984.
However, Sundin's contract was not renewed after the end of the season, with the production team citing his lack of rapport with viewers. The controversy surrounding his firing was further fueled by the fact that Sundin had recently been outed as a gay man, which some believed was the real reason for his dismissal.
After his departure from "Blue Peter", Sundin continued to work in film, appearing in "Dreamchild" and "Lionheart". He fell ill in 1988 and was hospitalized in 1989, eventually passing away at the age of 28 due to complications from HIV/AIDS.
