He grew up in the north west of England, was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School, and first appeared as a boy actor in radio dramas.
He began presenting news reports and conducting interviews for Granada Television in the early 1960s, before working for BBC TV on Crossword On Two, a quiz show, and Call My Bluff in 1967.
He appeared as the toastmaster in a televised competition for after-dinner speakers, M'Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, on Granada TV in 1978–79.
His other work included a period hosting Come Dancing, and he narrated and presented many documentaries and training films from the 1960s onwards.
[2] He formed his own broadcasting consultancy business, Peter Wheeler Associates, in 1981.