Play School (Australian TV series)

Australian TV series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Play School is an Australian preschool learning program, which has been produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 1966.[6][7] The show is based on the original British version created by Joy Whitby, which started in 1964 and ended in 1988.[8] The show's format was sold to the ABC early in the BBC version's run. Its presenters include a mix of former school teachers as well as well-known stage and screen actors and musicians.[3] The program has also helped launch the careers of numerous Australian actors and television presenters.[8][9] The toys featured include Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima, Humpty, Kiya, and others.

GenreChildren's television
Created byJoy Whitby
Presented bySee Presenters
Theme music composerRichard Connolly (lyrics by Rosemary Milne)
Quick facts Genre, Created by ...
Play School
Title card from 2011 to 2026
GenreChildren's television
Created byJoy Whitby
Presented bySee Presenters
Theme music composerRichard Connolly (lyrics by Rosemary Milne)
Opening theme"There's a Bear in There"
Ending theme"There's a Bear in There" (instrumental)
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons61
No. of episodes2,670 episodes as at November 2025 (approx.)[1] (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Various
  • Allan Kendall (1966–1980)[2]
  • Henrietta Clark (1980–1984, 1990–1999)[3]
  • Claire Henderson (1984–1988)[2]
  • John Fox (1988–1990)[2]
  • Virginia Lumsden (1999–2009)[4]
  • Jan Stradling (2009–2021)[4]
  • Lyndal Mebberson (2023–2026)[5]
Producers
Various
  • Allan Kendall (1966–1980)
  • Henrietta Clark (1980–1984, 1990–1999)
  • Claire Henderson (1984–1988)
  • Ros Lawson
  • John Fox
  • Tracey Ellison
  • Wendy Gray
  • Sophie Emtage
  • Sarah Dabro
  • Natalie Martin
  • Bryson Hall (2018–2026)[4]
Production locationAustralian Broadcasting Corporation Studios
Running time25–30 minutes
Production companyAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Original release
NetworkABC Television
Release18 July 1966 (1966-07-18) –
present
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In 2003, it was estimated that 80% of Australian pre-school children under six watched the program at least once a week.[10] In 2015, more than 10 million preschoolers tuned in to watch Play School on ABC iview. The program's two apps had over 90 million sessions and 550 million screen views.[11] Although audience reach is one indicator of success, the program's primary aim since its earliest episodes has been to connect with children in ways that resonate with their everyday experiences.[12][7]

It is the longest-running children's show in Australia[13] and the second-longest-running children's show worldwide after British series Blue Peter which has broadcast since October 1958.[14][12]

History

1966–1999: Origins and early years

Play School premiered on 18 July 1966 at 10.05am in NSW and Victoria only, but soon was broadcast around the country. The first episode was originally transmitted live[8] and the original executive producer was Allan Kendall and the first presenters on air were Diane Dorgan and Alister Smart.[8] In December that same year, Play School began afternoon transmissions as well as mornings, a practice that continues to this day.[12] For the first decade, Play School was broadcast in black and white with the first colour episode broadcasting on June 28, 1976.[15]

In 1987, Play School had a mild makeover for its 21st anniversary on air; there was a mild cosmetic revamp to the set, with a new set of opening and closing titles with a new version of the theme song sung by presenters, Philip Quast and Jennifer Ludlam. The windows also changed to look like the ones used on the British version of the show, but this change was not well received and the windows reverted to their old style by 1988.

2000–2009: Series revamp and 40th anniversary

In 2006, after four decades since the first episode was recorded, 1,781 episodes of Play School had been made and over one million children were viewing the show each week.[12] To commemorate the birthday, there was a free Play School concert on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.[16]

Play School was admitted to the Logie Hall of Fame in 2006,[3] the program's 40th anniversary year. It is one of only five Australian television programs to be inducted. Play School was the third show to enter the Logies' Hall of Fame in its own right, after Four Corners (1992) and Neighbours (2005). It was also the first children's show inducted into the hall of fame.[17] During the Logie Awards of 2006, a package showing memorable scenes from the show throughout its history was shown, before notable presenters (from past and present) came onto the stage with some of the favourite toys from the show. After these presenters accepted the award, the audience then joined them for a stirring rendition of the Play School theme.

2009–2019: Big Adventure spin-off series and 50th anniversary

In July 2009, Jan Stradling was appointed as the executive producer for children's production at the ABC, and became the executive producer for Play School.[18] Stradling led the development of the Big Adventure spin-off series, beginning with Little Ted's Big Adventure, where the toy was filmed having adventures outside the studio. She stated that the Little Ted toy was one of the first toys to be filmed outside; previously, the toys did not leave the studio.[4]

On Monday 4 July 2011, Play School updated its opening titles using a combination of stop motion and computer animation with a new arrangement of the theme song sung by presenters Jay Laga'aia and Justine Clarke.[19]

In 2016, Play School celebrated 50 years on the air and had a month of celebrations.[20] By the time of the anniversary, 2,250 episodes had been made and there were 1,821 songs in the Play School inventory.[21][15] To mark its 50th anniversary, from 4 July the program presented a series of cover songs called Play School: Celebrity Covers.[22]

2019–present: Specials and 60th anniversary

Several special episodes of Play School were produced beginning in 2019, along with new spin-off series and digital content to expand the program's output.[23] An episode titled "Acknowledgement of Country" aired in July 2019 for NAIDOC Week, hosted by Aboriginal presenters Luke Carroll, Miranda Tapsell and Hunter Page-Lochard. The special, written by Page-Lochard, celebrated Indigenous Australians and focused on educating viewers about Australian Aboriginal culture.[24][25] A new toy, a rag doll named Kiya, was introduced during the program, who was described as originating from Noongar Country.[26][27][28] Another special titled "All Together" aired in March 2025, and received an AACTA Award for Best Children's Program in 2026.[5] The episode was written by presenter Leah Vandenberg, who included themes of allyship and friendship in the script.[29]

The 60th anniversary of Play School was commemorated in July 2026 with an episode of Australian Story which featured behind the scenes footage and interviews with presenters Jay Laga'aia, Don Spencer, Rhys Muldoon, Simon Burke, Miah Madden and Justine Clarke. A series of regular episodes titled "Party Animals!" aired in July.[30] A deaf presenter, Vanessa Alford, joined the program as the new resident Auslan interpreter in August. She replaced long-term presenter Sofya Gollan, who directed a series of episodes featuring various Auslan translators.[31]

Presenters

Play School has had many presenters. Australian actress Benita Collings (30 years and over 400 episodes) and British-Australian actor John Hamblin (29 years and over 350 episodes) are the longest-serving.[32] The program's long-term hosts have also included: Sofya Gollan (28 years), Justine Clarke (over 26 years), Leah Vandenberg (over 26 years)[29], Andrew McFarlane (23 years) and Noni Hazlehurst (23 years).[33]

Current presenters

Current presenter Justine Clarke (left, 2018) and former presenter Don Spencer (right, 2011)

Former presenters

Format

Flower clock

The format of the show is activities, songs and games with either host passing back to each other at the end of their segment, and frequently joining each other in activities. Each day the presenters look at the calendar to find out which day of the week it is, read a story, and look through the windows.

From 1976 to 2000, they had a clock shaped like a rocket, and from 1966 to 2000, a clock shaped like a flower. The rocket clock was a popular addition to Play School in 1976 with its distinctive space and band music and the lights under the clock with colourful stars covered flashing and rotation to see what's behind the clock and reveal the diorama of the day. The coloured timbered Flower Clock appeared in 1975 with its two flower shapes and the pot under the clock going round and round. It was more vibrant than the original Perspex model and it was introduced along with the other changes to the Play School set to make most of the colour television which arrived in Australia the previous year.

The windows looked almost exactly like their British counterparts with a few slight differences. They changed the background behind the windows from black to white at the end of 1967 and they then changed it to light blue in 1985.

In 1992 there was a set revamp with new shelving and coloured tree shapes in the background; this change was done about midway through the 1992 production season, with earlier 1992 episodes retaining the older 1980s set.

Every week there is a common theme running through the program that the actors reflect upon during the episode; themes include Dinosaurs, Opposites, Zoo Animals, Food, Clothes, Games, Art, Hair, Hats, Shapes, Road Safety and vehicles. Each theme (or block of five episodes) were repeated twice a year on average for a period of six to seven years, before it was recycled and reused in new episodes. As funding was limited, only 45 new episodes were made each year, which means that nine weekly blocks shown each year were new episodes, the rest repeats.

In 2000, the show had a considerable revamp, with the rocket and flower clocks and the three windows put in storage[54][55][56] in favour of a newer-style Play School. The clocks and windows were subsequently sent to the National Museum of Australia. The main clock was now simply called the Play School Clock, which was controlled by one of the presenters standing at the top of the clock and turning a winding device, which caused the clue to the story on the trolley to slide down a slippery dip from 2000 to 2003, some episodes include the toys inside the trolley along with a book.

Then came the Hickory Dickory Clock which made its debut in 2001 featured clockwork resembling the "Hickory Dickory" nursery rhyme with a cat and the mouse running around the clock and then the mouse re-appearances as the little red doors under the clock opens. The train clock made its debut appearance in 2005 which resembles a train station with a clock above it and the train comes out of the tunnel and pulls up at the station with a clue to the story on the back of the train.

In 2017, the rocket clock made a comeback, featuring sliding doors with a clue to the story. The windows were also heavily changed. They were now built into a large rotating prop which was built underneath the clock (shown one themed week "Messy") and 'controlled' by one of the presenters pulling a lever back and forwards. The windows (now including a diamond window) would spin around and would slowly be eliminated as the window they would look through until they got to the fourth window and the camera would slowly zoom in and fade out into the fill. That was soon replaced by windows with animation where Jemima stands next to the round window; Little Ted stands next to the square window, Big Ted stands next to the diamond window, Humpty stands next to the arched window, and the window chosen goes through to pre-recorded footage. That was replaced by CGI craft-like animation where each window shakes with assorted theme tunes for the windows.

The Play School team make nine series each year, which includes 45-50 episodes. Each series takes around 17 weeks to make.[8][57]

Teachings

Teo Gebert performing at a Play School concert holding the Jemima doll, 2015

From the inception of the program, the producers of Play School have made efforts to promote equality, playful education, and a love of learning in its audience. Working on Play School has come to be considered an unusually demanding and important job for some actors,[58] because they feel they are becoming part of a generation of children's lives and providing a foundation for learning things that will last for life.

Play School's stated philosophy is to encourage a child "to wonder, to think, to feel and to imagine".[59] The duo (sometimes a trio when joined a hearing impaired Auslan interpreter) of presenters address the child directly and personally, so that every child watching the show feels that they are spending time with two people they know and can trust. Into this relationship are woven the stories, songs and activities that form the fabric of Australian children's culture.[60]

Toys

Main

  • Big Ted (1966–present), a yellow teddy bear[61]
  • Little Ted (1966–present), a brown teddy bear[62]
  • Jemima (1966–present), a rag doll with brown wool pigtails
  • Humpty (1966–present), a white egg-shaped toy resembling Humpty Dumpty
  • Kiya (2019–present), an Aboriginal Australian rag doll from Noongar Country, whose name means "hello"[23]

Other

  • Hamble (1966–1993), a plastic doll[63]
  • Diddle (1966–present), a toy cat
  • Slush (1970s–present), a toy pig
  • Sam the Lamb (1970s–present), a toy lamb[63]
  • Banana (1976–2010), banana-shaped toy wearing pyjamas[63]
  • Daisy (1980s–present), a toy cow
  • Henny Penny (1980s–present), a toy hen
  • Goosy Lucy (1980s–present), a toy goose
  • Kim and Lisa (1980s–present), plastic doll siblings of Korean descent[63]
  • Jim (1985–2000s), a plastic doll of Australian Aboriginal descent
  • Maurice (1987–present), a teddy bear[63]
  • Darcy the Donkey (1990s–present), a toy donkey
  • Owl (1990s–present), a toy owl
  • Scrap the Dog (1990–present), a toy dog designed by Katrina van Gendt[63]
  • Meeka (1993–present), a plastic doll of Asian descent, named by a competition winner[63]
  • Fergus (1994–present), a toy frog[63]
  • Dan (2000s–present), a plastic doll of Australian Aboriginal descent, replacing Jim
  • Fido (toy dog) (2000s–present), a toy dog
  • Tippy the Duck (2010–present), a crocheted duck
  • Joey (2016–present), a toy kangaroo designed by illustrator Bruce Whatley and introduced for the 50th anniversary[64]

Music

Pianists

The program has historically had a musical director, who served as a pianist who played live music to accompany the presenters on each episode. Occasionally the pianist would make an on-camera appearance, one of the more well known being Warren Carr who served as musical director for over 20 years.

The pianists who have worked on Play School are:

  • Bill Antman (1966–72)
  • Judy Bailey (1970s–90)
  • Penny Biggins (1991–94)
  • Warren Carr (1972–93)
  • Peter J Casey (1996–2004)
  • Ron Creager (1998)
  • Peter Dasent (2000–present)
  • Rob Eastwood (2000)
  • Max Lambert (1991–99, 2004)
  • Paul McDermott (1991–94)
  • Brian Castles Onion (2003–09)
  • Lindsay Partridge (1994)
  • Elliott Wilshier (1994–99)
  • Franky Valentyn (2008–09)
  • Stuart Hunter (2014)

Theme song

There's a bear in there,
and a chair as well.
There are people with games
and stories to tell.
Open wide, come inside;
it's Play School.

— Lyrics for "There's a Bear in There"

The Play School theme song, "There's a Bear in There", was composed by Australian composer Richard Connolly, with lyrics by Rosemary Milne. In 2016, the song was remixed by Andre Butterworth aka Copycatt as the winner of the Triple J Play School remix competition which, along with two other remixes by KLP and Jondrette Den respectively, appeared on the Play School album Famous Friends: Celebrating 50 Years of Play School.[65] In 2017, "There's a Bear in There" was inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry.

Albums

  • Hey Diddle Diddle (1976)
  • Hickory Dickory (1978)
  • Humpty Dumpty (1981)
  • Wiggerly Woo (1984)
  • There's a Bear in There (1987)
  • ...It's Play School (1991)
  • The Best of Play School (1993)
  • Oomba Baroomba (1994)
  • Play School Favourites (1996)
  • In The Car (1997)
  • Hullabaloo (1999)
  • Favourite Play School Nursery Rhymes (2002)
  • Hip Hip Hooray (2002)
  • Sing-a-Long Songs (2004)
  • Let's Play Together (2011)
  • Come and Play 45th Anniversary (2011)
  • Big Ted, Prince of Bears (2014)
  • Favourite Things Songs and Nursery Rhymes from Play School (2014)
  • Play School: Jemima's Big Adventure (2015)
  • Once Upon a Time (2015)
  • Famous Friends: Celebrating 50 Years of Play School (2016)
  • Play School: 50 Best Songs (2016)
  • Very Jazzy Street Party (2022)
  • There's a Rave in There (2026)

Awards and nominations

AACTA Awards

More information Award, Year ...
List of awards and nominations received by Play School
Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
AACTA Awards 2016 Play School Best Children's Television Series Nominated
2025 Play School: Big Ted's Time Machine Best Children's Program Nominated [66]
2026 Play School: All Together Won [5]
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AIMIA Awards

More information Year, Nominee / work ...
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 ABC4Kids Play School Play Time Best of Tablet – Entertainment[67] Won
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AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

More information Year, Nominee / work ...
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Very Jazzy Street Party Best Independent Children's Album or EP Nominated [68][69]
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ARIA Music Awards

More information Year, Nominee / work ...
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995 Oomba Baroomba Best Children's Album Nominated
1997 In the Car Won
2000 Hullabaloo Nominated
2003 Hip Hip Hooray Nominated
2011 Let's Play Together Nominated
2015 Favourite Things – Songs and Nursery Rhymes from Play School Nominated
2016 Famous Friends: Celebrating 50 Years of Play School Nominated
2023 Very Jazzy Street Party Nominated
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TV Week Logie Awards

More information Year, Nominee / work ...
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1990 Play School Most Popular Children's Program Nominated
1992 Nominated
1993 Nominated
1996 Nominated
1998 Most Outstanding Achievement in Children's Television Awarded
2000 Most Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
2004 Most Outstanding Children's Preschool Program Nominated
2006 Hall of Fame Inducted
2014 Most Outstanding Children's Program Nominated
2024 Best Children's Program Nominated
2025 Nominated[70]
2026 Pending
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Controversies

"Two mums"

On 31 May 2004, a "through the windows" segment narrated by Brenna Harding[71] featured the sentence "My Mums are taking me and my friend Merryn to an amusement park". The clip was raised as controversial by sections of the media, and three federal ministers expressed dislike over the screening of the clip. The ABC responded, however, by saying that "Play School aims to reflect the diversity of Australian children, embracing all manner of race, religions and family situations".

Constructing a "bong"

A 2013 episode showed Alex Papps constructing some kind of contraption which involved a straw inserted through the side of a plastic bottle, which was then filled with hot water, accidentally resembling a bong. This controversy arose again when the episode was replayed in 2015.[72]

"Grooming" accusation

In October 2022, Courtney Act appeared on an episode of spin-off Play School: Story Time, where she read The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick.[73] Her appearance generated considerable media attention when Senator Alex Antic took issue with the ABC inviting a drag queen to read a book to children about a girl who favoured wearing pants instead of a dress, which he described in a Senate Estimates hearing as "grooming".[74] Questioning ABC managing director David Anderson, Antic asked why the ABC was "grooming Australian children with this sort of adult content" and asking Anderson whether such content was contributing to a "gender dysphoria problem".[74] Anderson denied this, while Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused Antic of using "deeply offensive" language.[75] Act defended her appearance on Play School: Story Time in an opinion piece she wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald and during an appearance on The Project.[76][77]

Spin-off series

There have also been various spin-offs from Play School which have been played on ABC Kids, typically much shorter in duration. These include:

Big Adventure series

  • Little Ted's Big Adventure[4]
  • Jemima's Big Adventure
  • Big Ted's Big Adventure
  • Humpty's Big Adventure
  • Maurice's Big Adventure
  • Joey's Big Adventure

Other series

  • Play School: Story Time
  • Play School: Art Time[23]
  • Play School: Celebrity Covers[23]
  • Play School: Nursery Rhyme News Time
  • Play School: Art Crew
  • Play School: Song Time
  • Play School: Science Time
  • Play School: Show Time
  • Play School: Story Time: Languages
  • Play School: Dance It Out

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Also returned as a guest presenter in 2024.
  2. [b]
    Also returned as a guest presenter in 2026.
  3. [c]
    Also returned as a presenter of the Play School: Story Time spin-off series in 2020.

References

External links

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