Play School in Australia first aired in July 1966. Forty Eight years later the live show came to Canberra again and the four of us went along to watch Teo and Rachel (plus of course the big four of Jemima, Big Ted, Humpty and Little Ted).
I've written on this blog before about how I think it's sad that the BBC killed the series off - consigning Humpty to the alley behind the wall he fell off. Fortunately it's still going strong in Australia, in broadly the same format and judging by the sell out crowds that we've always seen the show play to I rather suspect the BBC in their wisdom made a pretty big mistake.
It's a bit of an institution in our house. All the cliches of the 'kids growing up with it' are true. I hope it's still around when our children have their own children, it's good, honest children's entertainment.
During its time it's brokered a lot of important topics - the show upset (horrible) former PM John Howard some years ago when it ran a clip starring two lesbian parents and last year had a feature where one of the presenters tweeted and went on facebook. In that respect it's old fashioned but yet very contemporary. I like it.
We managed to get front row seats and it was great to see both Audrey and Eli get totally engrossed in the show. Sadly I rather suspect it will be our last trip. Audrey will be seven next month and Big Ted and Co. will be replaced by boy bands and other distractions. I must admit as the final song was sung there was a lump in my throat.
