Play School (Australian TV series)

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

Play School is an Australian children's television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series is educational television aimed at preschool children, based on the original British version created by Joy Whitby, which ran from 1964 to 1988. The program features presenters who educate and entertain the child audience through stories, songs and movement. Play School premiered on 18 July 1966 on ABC Television.

The first episode was presented by Diane Dorgan and Alister Smart in 1966. Since then, the longest-running hosts have included Benita Collings (1969–1999) and John Hamblin (1970–1999). The series currently stars a rotating roster of hosts including Justine Clarke and Leah Vandenberg, who have both presented the series since 2000, as well as Teo Gebert, Alex Papps, and others. Stuffed toys, including Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima, Humpty and Kiya, are featured in the program and utilised by the presenters.

Play School has influenced the development of merchandise, albums, and concert tours. The series won an ARIA Award in 1997 for Best Children's Album, and an AACTA Award in 2026 for Best Children's Program. The series was awarded Most Outstanding Achievement in Children's Television at the 1998 Logie Awards, was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 2006, and won Best Children's Program in 2026. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia and the second-longest-running children's show worldwide.

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.[6][7] 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.[9] For the first decade, Play School was broadcast in black and white with the first colour episode broadcasting on June 28, 1976.[10]

2000–2009: Series revamp and 40th anniversary

Five new presenters were hired for Play School in September 1999; Justine Clarke, Jay Laga'aia, Andrew McFarlane, Rhys Muldoon and Leah Vandenberg.[11] It was reported that the series would be undergoing an overhaul, with a new set and new opening titles debuting in the following year.[12] It was later reported in February 2000 that the ABC were intending to modernise the program, by replacing its senior presenters with younger actors.[13] It was suggested in report that the producers had been influenced by the success of the children's series Hi-5, which premiered in 1999.[13] The series would now be filmed in pre-recorded segments, rather than in one continuous half-hour sequence.[13][14] Additional changes included the removal of three senior presenters of Play School: Benita Collings, Angela Moore and David James.[13] Henrietta Clark was also dismissed as the executive producer of the program, after serving in this role for the previous ten years.[13] The overhaul of the series was criticised, in particular the removal of Collings after her tenure of thirty years as a presenter.[14] ABC executive Claire Henderson responded to the criticism by explaining that the changes to the program were "minimal".[15] The new episodes were expected to begin broadcasting in May.[13]

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.[9] 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: Channel move, Big Adventure spin-off series and 50th anniversary

Play School presenters celebrating the program's 50th anniversary at the Logie Awards of 2016. From left to right: Simon Burke, Andrew McFarlane, Benita Collings, Eddie Perfect, Justine Clarke and Don Spencer.

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 Laga'aia and 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][10] 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 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 Laga'aia, Clarke, Don Spencer, Rhys Muldoon, Simon Burke and Miah Madden. A series of regular episodes titled "Party Animals!" aired in July.[30] Vanessa Alford joined the program as the new resident deaf interpreter in August. She replaced long-term presenter Sofya Gollan, who directed a series of episodes featuring picture-in-picture guest appearances by various Auslan translators.[31]

Presenters

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

The longest-serving presenters of Play School are Benita Collings (30 years and over 400 episodes)[32] and John Hamblin (29 years and over 350 episodes).[33] Other long-term hosts of the program have 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).[34]

Current presenters

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. In 2000, the show had a considerable revamp, with the rocket and flower clocks and the three windows sent to the National Museum of Australia.[52][53][54]

Every week there is a common theme running through the program that the actors reflect upon during the episode. 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. The Play School team make nine series each year, which includes 45-50 episodes. Each series takes around 17 weeks to make.[8][55]

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

Stuffed toys are an integral part of the Play School brand, with the presenters using the characters in stories and imaginative play. Big Ted is the longest-serving toy, a yellow teddy bear who debuted in the first episode of the series.[56][57] The other main toys from the program are Little Ted, a brown teddy bear; Jemima, a rag doll with brown wool pigtails; and Humpty, a white egg-shaped toy resembling Humpty Dumpty.[56][58] Another teddy bear named Maurice was introduced in 1987.[56] New toys from the 1990s included Scrap the Dog, designed by graphic artist Katrina van Gendt; Meeka, a plastic doll of Asian descent named by a competition winner; and Fergus, a toy frog.[56] The series featured an Aboriginal Australian plastic doll named Jim, who was replaced by Dan in the 2000s.[56] A duck named Tippy made its debut in 2010, while Banana, a banana-shaped toy wearing pyjamas, was retired upon the debut of the Bananas in Pyjamas animated series.[56] Twin plastic doll of Korean descent Kim and Lisa were given a makeover in 2011 to highlight their individual personalities.[56] Illustrator Bruce Whatley designed a new toy a kangaroo named Joey, for the 50th anniversary of Play School in 2016.[59] An Aboriginal Australian rag doll from Noongar Country, named Kiya (meaning "hello"), was introduced in 2019.[23]

Teachings

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,[60] 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".[61] 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.[62]

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
57202 May 2022 (2022-05-02)24 February 2023 (2023-02-24)
582512 June 2023 (2023-06-12)30 December 2023 (2023-12-30)
592527 May 2024 (2024-05-27)28 February 2025 (2025-02-28)
60305 May 2025 (2025-05-05)8 May 2026 (2026-05-08)
61TBA13 July 2026 (2026-07-13)TBA

Music

Pianists

Play School has historically had a musical director who doubles as a resident pianist, and plays live music to accompany the presenters in each episode.[63] The pianist performs both prepared songs, as well as underscoring which is improvised.[63] Warren Carr was a long-serving musical director and pianist of the series, who served in this role from 1972 until his death in 1993.[64] Current pianist Peter Dasent joined the program in 2000 when Max Lambert, who held the role from 1991 to 1999, was commissioned to compose music for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.[63][64] For a time, Dasent shared the job with Brian Castles Onion, a pianist for the Opera Australia company.[63] In 2026, Dasent stated that he was writing more original songs for Play School (roughly two per episode) than he had previously.[63]

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

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 [66]
2025 Play School: Big Ted's Time Machine Best Children's Program Nominated [67]
2026 Play School: All Together Won [5]
AIMIA Awards 2014 Play School: Play Time Best of Tablet – Entertainment Won [68]
Best of Tablet Won
AIR Awards 2023 Very Jazzy Street Party Best Independent Children's Album or EP Nominated [69][70]
ARIA Music Awards 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
Logie Awards 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 [71]
2026 Won

Reception

Play School is the longest-running children's show in Australia[72] and the second-longest-running children's show worldwide after British series Blue Peter, which has broadcast since October 1958.[73][9]

Viewership

In February 2000, Play School averaged an audience of half a million nationally every day; it was the most-watched show by children under 12 in Australia.[13] In 2003, it was estimated that 80% of Australian pre-school children under six watched the program at least once a week.[74] 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.[75] 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.[9][7]

Controversies

"Two mums"

On 31 May 2004, a "through the windows" segment narrated by Brenna Harding[76] 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.[77]

"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.[78] 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".[79] 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".[79] Anderson denied this, while Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused Antic of using "deeply offensive" language.[80] 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.[81][82]

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[36]
  • 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[36]
  • Play School: Art Crew
  • Play School: Song Time
  • Play School: Science Time
  • Play School: Show Time[36]
  • Play School: Story Time: Languages
  • Play School: Dance It Out

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Also returned as a guest presenter in 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Also returned as a guest presenter in 2026.
  3. ↑ Burke also returned to present an episode of the Play School: Story Time spin-off series in 2020.
  4. ↑ Trapaga also returned as a guest presenter in 2022 and 2024.

References

  1. ↑ "Play School By The Numbers". Twitter. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Production". NMA.
  3. 1 2 "Play School: the early years". Earshot. 18 July 2016. ABC Radio National. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Denyer, Winsome (6 July 2026). "Video: Child's Play — Play School turns 60". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 July 2026. Retrieved 17 July 2026. Note: Transcript available
  5. 1 2 3 Knox, David (6 February 2026). "AACTA Awards 2026: winners". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Play School". ABC Kids.
  7. 1 2 "Play School: the early years". ABC Radio National. 18 July 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 "Happy Birthday Play School". National Museum of Australia. 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "40 Years of Play School". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 Cockburn, Paige (12 July 2016). "Play School turns 50: Katie Noonan on being host for a day, the role of music in childhood". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conway, Andrew (6 September 1999). "Famous five want to play". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. p. 54. Retrieved 22 August 2026 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ Courtis, Brian (9 September 1999). "Back To School". The Age. Nine Entertainment. p. 62. Retrieved 22 August 2026 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dent, Jackie (3 February 2000). "There's barely anyone in there: how the ABC purged Play School". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. p. 3. Retrieved 22 August 2026 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. 1 2 Katz, Danny (6 February 2000). "Don't send Play School to the doll hospital". The Age. Nine Entertainment. p. 14. Retrieved 22 August 2026 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ Dale, David (4 February 2000). "Loyal bears lose chairs in Play School coup". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. p. 15. Retrieved 22 August 2026 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ Low, Lenny Ann (19 July 2006). "Forever young". Sydney Morning Herald.
  17. ↑ "Play School wins Logie honour". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 19 April 2006. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  18. ↑ Knox, David (16 July 2009). "Staff changes prepare for ABC3". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Two New Presenters For Play School's 45th Birthday Celebrations" (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  20. ↑ "Celebrate 50 Years of Play School". ABC Kids. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Looking back at 50 years of Play School". Television.au The History of Australian Television. July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Celebrities Party for Play School's 50th in July". Female.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Knox, David (24 June 2019). "Play School to introduce Indigenous character". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  24. ↑ Latimore, Jack (7 July 2019). "Miranda Tapsell on diversity, that Get Krack!n episode and Play School's new Indigenous doll". Guardian Australia. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "Play School – Acknowledgement of Country". ABC Kids. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  26. ↑ Maguire; Jeffery, Dannielle; Yasmin (8 July 2019). "Play School reveals Indigenous doll Kiya for NAIDOC Week". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ Maguire, Dannielle; Jeffery, Yasmin (8 July 2019). "Play School has a new doll. And there's something special about her". ABC News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "Play School 2019 – There's a bear in there and some new friends too!". About the ABC. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  29. 1 2 Rigden, Clare (11 July 2026). "Play School turns 60: presenter Leah Vandenberg reflects on the ABC Kids show's extraordinary legacy". The West Australian. Southern Cross Media Group. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  30. ↑ Knox, David (16 June 2026). "Play School turning 60". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  31. 1 2 Scott, Leisa; Denyer, Winsome (5 July 2026). "We go behind the scenes to discover the secrets of Play School's 60-year success". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  32. 1 2 Hoh, Amanda (12 July 2016). "Benita Collings shares the secrets of Play School for show's 50th anniversary". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  33. 1 2 "'Unforgettable' long-time Play School presenter, 'Naughty' John Hamblin dies aged 87". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Happy Birthday Play School - Presenters". National Museum Australia. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  35. ↑ Bolger, Rosemary (5 April 2024). "Play School presenter Teo Gebert celebrates 20 years in 'dream job' sparking kids' imagination". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 December 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 4 Knox, David (17 July 2026). "Play School 60: The inner child in Alex Papps". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  37. ↑ Knox, David (16 April 2009). "Three more join Play School". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  38. ↑ Knox, David (20 September 2010). "Luke Carroll joins Play School". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  39. ↑ Palmer, Emma (21 June 2023). "On the Couch with Emma Palmer". Australian Arts Review (Interview). Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  40. 1 2 Knox, David (18 June 2011). "New presenters join Play School". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
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  43. ↑ Walker, Carlie (5 October 2017). "There's a Maryborough boy in there...and a bear as well". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 22 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. 1 2 Byrnes, Holly (25 November 2015). "Feeling old? Brace yourself, because ABC Kids favourite Play School is turning 50". News.com.au. News Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
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  50. ↑ "Hunter Page-Lochard". RGM Artists. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  51. ↑ Day, Bek (4 September 2018). "Why the new presenter on 'Play School' is a win for everyone a bit different". Kidspot. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  52. ↑ "Rocket Clock from Play School". National Museum of Australia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  53. ↑ "Flower clock from Play School". National Museum of Australia. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  54. ↑ "Large square, arch and round windows from Play School". National Museum of Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  55. ↑ "Play School TV Series". IMDB.
  56. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Happy Birthday Play School Toys". National Museum of Australia. 2016.
  57. ↑ "Big Ted". ABC Kids.
  58. ↑ "Little Ted". ABC Kids.
  59. ↑ Knox, David (10 July 2016). "Play School welcomes new toy, Joey". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  60. ↑ Hazlehurst, Noni; Muldoon, Rhys (13 July 2006). "Through the Windows". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  61. ↑ "Play School - Jemima to the Rescue". HarperCollins Publishers Australia. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  62. ↑ "Play School - Let's Play Together". ABC Music. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  63. 1 2 3 4 5 Knox, David (13 July 2026). "Play School 60: "My job is like an old-fashioned silent movie piano player"". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  64. 1 2 "Music". National Museum of Australia. 2016.
  65. ↑ "Play School Famous Friends". ABC Shop. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  66. ↑ Knox, David (4 December 2016). "AACTA Awards 2016: guide". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
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  68. ↑ Leroy, Sabine (4 April 2014). "20th Annual AIMIA Award Winners Announced". Australian Interactive Media Industry Association. Sydney. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  69. ↑ "Nominees Announced for the Australian Independent Music Awards 2023". Music Feeds. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  70. ↑ Lefevre, Jules (4 August 2023). "King Stingray and Genesis Owusu Win Big at 2023 AIR Awards". Music Feeds. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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  72. ↑ "Play School AU, 1966". ACMI.
  73. ↑ Aedy, Richard (22 July 2011). "Talkback: 'There's a bear in there', 45 years of Play School". Life Matters. 5 minutes in. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC Radio National. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
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  75. ↑ Rigden, Clare (18 March 2016). "ABC children's TV, such as Play School, reach millions of toddlers". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  76. ↑ "Brenna outs herself as show's star". The Daily Telegraph. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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  79. 1 2 Cunningham, Matt (8 November 2022). "Senator Alex Antic accuses ABC of 'grooming' kids after drag queen Courtney Act appeared on program Play School". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
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