Former Blue Peter presenter and Olivier-nominated actor Peter Duncan will star in an upcoming spooky play at Oldham Coliseum.

"When Darkness Falls" is a brand-new spine-chilling ghost story coming to the theatre as part of a national tour just in time for Halloween, from Tuesday, October 25 to Saturday, October 29.

On a stormy night on the small island of Guernsey, a young paranormal expert joins a sceptical history teacher to record the first in a series of podcasts based on the island’s incredible folklore and paranormal history. 

As the expert regales his horrifying stories, the teacher learns that we all have our own truth, our own story. 

Ghosts that haunt us, that bring the past, present and future together in unexpected ways which can threaten to unsettle everything we think we know.

This new production by James Milton and Paul Morrissey promises to draw audiences into dark pasts, reveal disturbing truths and explore the power of stories. 

Actor, film and documentary maker Duncan, who has a theatre, TV and film career that spans five decades, will play the character John Blondel.

He began his career on stage, joining Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre. 

Duncan became a household name when he joined Blue Peter in 1980. 

After presenting, he began to appear in musical theatre roles such as Barnum, Bill Snibson in Me And My Girl, Charlie Chaplin in The Little Tramp and Denry Machin in The Card, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award as Best Actor in a Musical. 

Daniel Rainford recently completed a UK tour of Michael Morpurgo’s "Private Peaceful", in which he played the lead role, Tommo - a role he also played in its original run at the Nottingham Playhouse.

He will perform the role of The Speaker  

His screen credits include this year’s "The Batman" starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz.

The Oldham Times: Peter Duncan as John Blondel & Daniel Rainford as The Speaker in When Darkness FallsPeter Duncan as John Blondel & Daniel Rainford as The Speaker in When Darkness Falls (Image: Pamela Raith)

The show’s illusions are designed by John Bulleid, an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star, whose other theatre credits include "Harry Potter and The Cursed Child" at the Palace Theatre, London.

Writers Paul Morrissey and James Milton have worked together for the past 15 years. 

James is currently head of content for the new Holocaust Galleries at Imperial War Museum. 

His first book, The Holocaust, was published in 2021. 

Paul has written several other plays including Bingo, The Wickies and Alcatraz.

When Darkness Falls is directed by Paul Morrissey and designed by Justin Williams, with lighting by Bethany Gupwell and sound by Daniel Higgott.

The UK tour is produced by Paul Morrissey Ltd, Christopher Wheeler and Molly Morris in association with The BARD, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Glynis Henderson Productions.

Tickets can be booked on Oldham Coliseum’s website.v