We’d all like to stop time but sadly, time waits for no man – even those who’ve owned Bernard’s Watch.
Two decades on, the show's lead actor has revealed what life has been like since the iconic nineties show ended.
In fact, David Peachey has revealed that he shunned the spotlight as a teenager and hasn’t had a major role after playing the titular character.
If you are unfamiliar with the nostalgic kids’ series, it might be worth stopping for a few minutes to reading a synopsis of the hit TV show.
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Bernard’s Watch centred around the titular schoolboy, played by Peachey, who had a stopwatch which could magically freeze time.
Gifted to him by a kindly postman, who notices Bernard is always late, hijinks then ensue in this magical fantasy series – which ran from 1997 to 2001.
Despite being a major part of people’s childhood, Peachey decided to leave the limelight behind him after the show ended and hasn't had a starring role in over two decades.
In fact, the former child star admitted he used to resent being recognised as a teenager, feeling embarrassed about his onscreen alter-ego, whom he described as ‘very moral’.
To make matters worse, the 46 episodes had been filmed in his native Nottingham, meaning the then-teen Peachey constantly bumping into fans.
“I used to hate being recognised,” he told I News, adding: “I was probably just shy and really self-conscious.”
He continued: “There were times where I’d be in the queue for the cinema or something and get the feeling someone was looking at me and know why they’re looking at me.”
“I was never not polite but I was always secretly thinking, ‘Please don’t come over. Please don’t recognise me'.”
Thankfully, the now 35-year-old has changed his mind in recent years and even set up a Cameo account to interact with Bernard’s Watch fans.
On his Twitter account, he even makes reference to the show with his bio hilariously reading: “Husband, Father, Forest. Used to own a watch.”
“There were times where I’ve been embarrassed by it, especially at the time – but now I look back and I’m very proud of it,” he admitted with a smile.
“I wouldn’t change any of it for anything.”
Having married and become a dad since the series ended, he even joked that he could do with the magical stopwatch, telling the newspaper: “I could certainly do with it on a day-to-day basis, without a doubt. I’m sure I’d find plenty of stuff to do. I’d make that day last quite long.”
We’re glad that Peachey is happy with his time on the show, we know we enjoyed every minute!
Topics: TV and Film, UK News
Katherine Sidnell