Following Mr Motivator's departure from the BBC1's new celebrity gymnastics show Tumble, former Blue Peter host Peter Duncan has been announced as his replacement.
Fitness guru Mr Motivator, real name Derek Evans, had spent six weeks training for the TV contest, but suffered a dislocated knee in rehearsals last week that also required surgery to repair a ruptured tendon. With the 61-year-old ruled out of the competition and just weeks to go before the show launches, Peter Duncan has bravely stepped in to replace Mr Motivator at the last minute.
Famous for his daredevil stunts as a Blue Peter host in the 1980s, Peter, 60, famously fought a sumo wrestler in Japan and cleaned the clock face of London's Big Ben. Then in 1985, he was given his own spin-off show, Duncan Dares, which saw him drive across the Irish Sea in a VW Beetle.
Peter also starred in the 1980 film Flash Gordon, although his character was killed off after just a few minutes on screen, and in 2011, he took part in the BBC's Total Wipeout: Celebrity Special, finishing second to Marcus Patric, 20 years his junior.
A regular marathon runner, Peter should have the fitness levels to cope with the contest, but joining Tumble at such a late stage will make it hard for him to catch up with the other contestants, former EastEnders star John Partridge, Dynasty star Emma Samms, World Champion boxer Carl Froch, Loose Women host Andrea McLean, Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins, Sugababes singer Emelle Berrabah, Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding, TOWIE's Lucy Mecklenburgh and CBBC star Bobby Lockwood.
We wish him well.
Tumble premieres on BBC1 on Saturday August 9,
