Peptide phage display libraries were screened for peptides that bind to the tumour suppressor protein, human p53. Three p53 binding peptides were isolated respectively from hexamer (6-mer), dodecamer (12-mer) and icosomer (20-mer) libraries. We have characterised their interaction with p53 in detail. The phage appear to bind regions on native p53 common between mouse and man. Two conformation-specific anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies were used to dissect the phage-p53 interaction, the phage were found to preferentially bind the PAb1620-p53 conformation rather than the PAb240-p53 conformation. Mapping experiments indicated the C-terminal 30 amino acid residues of p53 were dispensable for phage binding and that the binding of SV40 large T-antigen and the phage were not mutually exclusive. Interestingly the phage were seen to exhibit differential binding to wild-type human p53 over the two point mutant p53 proteins, His175 and Trp248. Ultimately the phage appear to selectively target native wild-type p53, mimicking the specificity of SV40 large T-antigen. The ability to target specific sub-populations of p53 could be an important step in the development of therapeutics for the treatment of p53-based human malignancy.