[5] Amongst the autobiographical details revealed in his videos are that he served as a radar mechanic during World War II, that he had a lifelong love of motorcycles, and that he lived alone as a widower and pensioner.

[6] After resisting all media attention for a long time (including requests for interviews, photographs, and attempts to identify him), insisting that he only wished to converse with the YouTube community in an informal and personal way, Oakley finally gave his first interview, for the BBC's The Money Programme, which was aired on BBC Two on 16 February 2007.

[11] After Oakley's introductory video, which has been viewed over three million times, he began producing his autobiographical series, Telling It All.

These made him an Internet celebrity almost overnight, gaining mention in various media, such as BBC News and GMTV, as well as prompting the creation of websites bearing his username.

On 5 March 2014, Chantrey posted the song on his channel on YouTube, accompanied by video footage of Peter as a tribute following the announcement of his illness.

[15] Oakley's YouTube success inspired other older people, particularly men with life experiences to share, to begin posting vlogs on them.

Oakley influenced World War II veteran Martin H. Slobodkin (1920–2006), who, under the name MHarris1920, started to post his blogs.

Martin died in October 2006 and received an outpouring of tributes from other YouTube users after his wife, Teresa, posted a video announcing his death.

[19] On 16 February 2007, Oakley made his first television appearance, on a special episode of the BBC's The Money Programme called "Coming to Your Screen: DIY TV".