Peter Davison on The Complete Guide to Parenting

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Peter Davison jumped at the chance to play child psychologist George Hartley, who is anything but an expert when it comes to looking after his own son Jamie. He comments, ‘the show is quite un-ITV and I liked the idea that George is an arrogant man who is deeply flawed,’ says Peter. ‘You can talk all you like about how you should bring up children but when it comes to the practicalities, he resorts to the worst possible way of dealing with his son without even being aware of it. He writes wonderful books about parenting but does the opposite and almost forgets at times that he has a child.’

Peter hit it off immediately with seven-year-old Noah Hedges, who plays Jamie. ‘Noah was great, it’s the first job he’s done and we had a good rapport. There is one scene where George gets increasingly desperate and drags him out of the house to put him in the back of a car, I had to manhandle him and he loves all that although his mother was a bit wary at first!’

Peter has plenty of experience as he has two young sons of his own with his second wife, writer Elizabeth Morton. ‘My boys Louis and Joel are a similar age so I’m quite good with the rough and tumble. Boys love being thrown around. The biggest problem is stopping Noah laughing and smiling while I’m being brutal to him!’

He doesn’t believe he has much in common with George’s parenting skills. ‘George has specialised in child psychology but he hasn’t really had anything to do with his son. When his wife gets a job in Paris, he is confident he can deal with it. He writes a timetable for the next day and you just know it’s all going to go horribly wrong. He sets himself up for a fall. Most men do think child care is very easy when they are out at work all day long. It’s a huge wake up call when you do take over the reins. Unless you concentrate entirely on the children, you are beaten.

He believes that ‘men’s problems stem from the fact that they think they can look after the children and do all the other things they want to do. My wife Elisabeth is writing at the moment and has deadlines to keep so I help out. I have to do relatively little but I’m involved more than George is.’

Peter also has a grown up daughter Georgia, from his first marriage to actress Sandra Dickinson. ‘Georgia is an actress and we are working together at the moment on Fear, Stress and Anger for the BBC with Pippa Haywood,’ says Peter who lives in South West London. He comments, ‘it’s a very different role from this - I swap wives with great alacrity! He is a broken man having been made redundant and has two daughters who wrap him around their fingers. It’s quite fun and a perfect part for Georgia, who is playing my daughter.’

Peter enjoyed working with Josie Lawrence, who plays his high-flying wife, adding: ‘Josie is terrific but we didn’t get the chance to film together much as a lot of her stuff is not with me because she is away in Paris. Most of our scenes are on the phone.’

Peter made his TV debut in the 1970s children’s sci-fi series The Tomorrow People and also starred in Love for Lydia before landing the role that catapulted him to fame, playing naïve vet Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small. He says, ‘I was very lucky to get All Creatures, it was a great supporting part,’ he says. ‘So many actors get pigeon holed in straight drama or sit-com but I never did, I managed to do both. I’ve been very lucky.’