Peter Andre found himself in an embarrassing situation this weekend when he failed to show up for a scheduled live radio interview, forcing him to issue a public apology to BBC presenter Alex Grundon. The 52-year-old singer left listeners waiting on air after disappearing moments before he was due to join the programme on Saturday.
Awkward On-Air Moment
Addressing the awkward situation live on air, presenter Alex Grundon told his audience: 'I need to take you into the world of showbiz for a moment.' Comparing celebrities to his own mother, who he said would arrive hours early for any appointment, Grundon explained: 'In the showbiz world, it is not like that — celebrities just get on with their lives.'
The presenter went on to joke that when 'some oink like Alex' calls, stars aren't likely to drop everything, suggesting that Peter could be doing anything from 'cleaning the loo' to 'washing the car' instead of answering his phone. Later in the programme, Grundon admitted the singer was 'out of contact', revealing that the team was doing their best to track him down.
Playful Pleas and Cheeky Digs
Playfully pleading with the star to get in touch, Grundon added: 'Please radio us, page us, text us, send us a carrier pigeon — we would love to hear from you, Peter.' Delivering his cheekiest dig yet, the presenter later thanked fans for messaging in to praise the show, before adding: 'It is nothing without you guys, it is you that provides the content — thank you so much, because Peter Andre doesn’t, that’s for sure.'
Finally, the DJ revealed that the Mysterious Girl hitmaker had been 'found', announcing: 'I don't want to shock you, I don't want to scare you, I don't want to thrill you: Peter Andre has been found and he will be with us. I know, cover your face with your hands, isn't this exciting?! – in the next 30 minutes we'll meet Peter Andre, alright?'
On-Air Apology
Moments later, Alex introduced Peter on the show and joked that he would have to put him 'on a leash'. Apologising on air, Peter said: 'I apologise, I need it,' before the pair went on to complete the interview as planned. The Daily Mail has contacted both the BBC and Peter's representative for comment regarding the incident.
Recent Media Appearances
This radio mishap comes after Peter Andre appeared on Lorraine earlier this month, where he discussed his new album Legacy and his campaign for stricter social media regulations for under-16s. During that interview, the conversation turned to the current Beckham family drama, with Peter insisting he knows how 'hurt' the Beckhams feel and saying there is 'so much going on behind closed doors' in the fallout from Brooklyn's recent public statements.
Peter told Lorraine Kelly: 'And it's sad. And they are nice people. I have met them many times, and they are really lovely people.' He continued: 'It's a difficult thing, you know, we're living in times where everything is open for discussion, everything.'
Social Media Concerns
Earlier in the Lorraine interview, Peter explained his concerns about social media, particularly regarding children's safety. 'There is nothing worse than somebody who is on social media, their kids are on social media, sitting there trying to say that social media is bad,' he said. 'But please understand, when we started social media, we started it all together, we had no idea how dangerous this was.'
The singer expressed particular concern about artificial intelligence combined with social media, stating: 'And now, with AI, it's AI that is really becoming the problem, combined with social media. They can take an image of your child and create all sorts of things.'
Family Protection
Peter is father to five children: Junior, 20, and Princess, 18, from his marriage to Katie Price, and Amelia, 12, Theo, nine, and Arabella, one, from his current marriage to Emily MacDonagh. While his older children have public profiles, his three youngest are kept out of the spotlight, with their faces never shared online.
Peter explained that his wife Emily initially insisted on keeping their youngest children off social media, a decision he now fully supports. 'At first Emily was like, "I'm not letting them on social media". I thought she was being a bit harsh,' he admitted. 'But then, when I started seeing as time went on, and AI started to get introduced, I was like "Thank God you have stopped them being on social media!" So actually, I thank her, I can't take the credit now, but I agree with that very much.'
The incident serves as another example of the challenges celebrities face in balancing their public commitments with private lives, while also highlighting ongoing concerns about social media's impact on families in the public eye.
