The opening sequence was first used on 19 September 1983 and stayed until the end in 1988. The toys were temporarily axed but were brought back when they realised they needed to make the revamp a bit more like the programme people expected.
Lionel should have been used as a regular presenter on Play School beyond 1977. The song Only Fish Know How to Disco is brilliant and I wouldn't mind doing a version with help from some Polish friends.
Of course Lionel Morton is just a singer in this episode, however between 1968 and 1977 he presented Play School 335 times, so was more experienced than the other two presenters.
Stuart Harris, Chris is the lead presenter in this edition and I can work out that Jane (who is younger than him) is his assistant whereas Lionel is officially only a singer on an acoustic guitar. Michael Omar is the pianist and Peter Howland is the drummer.
My dad, who incidently left when I was 7, used to say Jemima was me. I was only small. About 3 or 4, maybe 5. I used to love it. I believed him. Fond memories of my dad & me.
Although not credited in on screen originally nor in the Radio Times back on 11th January 1984 and 18th January 1984, Bertie the Rabbit is classed as a guest in this edition according to my autobiography.
Great upload - would love to see more but Play School seems so rare. Surprisingly nearly all the 1984 episodes exist according to " Here's A House ". Noticed the clock " contraption " brought in at the revamp the previous September seemed to have been dumped. This was the machine that had the ball bearings running through it and was played during the closing theme.
VideotapeFTW I think the end of the calendar meant more chances of repeats. The frequency of repeats definitely increased - for example by 1985 there were 151 new programmes but 109 repeats. A large proportion if you take into account that by Holy Week, Play School was being broadcast mornings only.
This episode of Play School to me demonstrates why ths show became less popular. First no calendar, I learnt the days and months of the year through Play School in the late 60s, early 70s, and the clock always being set to "something o'clock", no quarter past, half past or quarter to. Plus not making proper use of Lionel in this particular episode, he was a far moe experienced presenter of the show than Chris or Jane.
Stuart, the storytime clock was always different. It wasn't just always "something o'clock", there were quarter pasts, quarter tos and half pasts there as well. The earliest example being in 1965, where the storytime clock showed "quarter past twelve", with Terrence Frisby, the presenter, saying "That's a completely new time for us, isn't it?" Also, Lionel. He had already done ten years from 1968 up until 1978, and no doubt, he wanted to move on. A lot of the other presenters decided to move on with their careers after doing ten or more years, Derek Griffiths being a good example, as ten years was enough for him. Lionel was probably more into his music rather than being a children's entertainer, and Derek wanted to focus more on his work as a theatre actor, whilst still presenting some TV work here and there. Also, it's rather unfair to Jane Hardy when you compare her to such a legendary presenter like Lionel. This was only her first edition after all, and not all presenters are going to be as great as the others during their first programs. It's like saying that Johnny Ball and Jon Glover were more professional than Floella Benjamin was during her first week on the show.
@@jayrox40 thanks, he must have ditched doctor Ruth in Survivors 1975. PS- anybody know how i can contact Chris? There's a rumour going round that he fluffed a line in Survivors when he apparently said about two fire victims- "Donny and Pete were right beside the straw", but as there was no 'Pete' in the show maybe we misheard him, and i'd like him to clarify.
I can't believe you didn't mention Hamble in the info box, although given how much people hated her, it's understandable! I liked Jemima though - me and my sister named our ragdoll after her.
Aw, poor old Hamble - once a social outcast, always a social outcast! In all seriousness, though, I think she'd already been phased out by this point. Humpty was my personal favourite. :-)
I saw this when I was little, and I still remember the cockatoos. Great programming BBC!
The opening sequence was first used on 19 September 1983 and stayed until the end in 1988. The toys were temporarily axed but were brought back when they realised they needed to make the revamp a bit more like the programme people expected.
Ah, thanks for the info. New question: who in the world ever thought Play School would be improved by axing the toys in the first place? ;-)
Plus, the Play School video release was filmed during the summer of 1983 but wasn't available till early 1984.
Lionel should have been used as a regular presenter on Play School beyond 1977. The song Only Fish Know How to Disco is brilliant and I wouldn't mind doing a version with help from some Polish friends.
Wow, that was different. Thanks for uploading! The disco fish had us rolling.
You're very welcome! (Though I can't take all the credit.) The disco fish were my personal highlight, too. :-)
@@VideotapeFTW wheres the play school clock
The 🐑 is getting a cuddle
Lionel seems to have stolen one of Bucks Fizz's Eurovision Making your mind up jumpers from the wardrobe department!
Aw the sheep is getting a cuddle
There's also a very funky rendition of the fish disco song by Poppy the cat and her grandmother in a 1996 episode of Playdays :)
Really? I didn't know that - thanks for the info! Do you happen to know if that particular one is on RUclips?
It is now! See my latest upload.
Oh fantastic! Thanks very much for sharing. :-)
That wee lamb is clever
Of course Lionel Morton is just a singer in this episode, however between 1968 and 1977 he presented Play School 335 times, so was more experienced than the other two presenters.
Stuart Harris, Chris is the lead presenter in this edition and I can work out that Jane (who is younger than him) is his assistant whereas Lionel is officially only a singer on an acoustic guitar. Michael Omar is the pianist and Peter Howland is the drummer.
My dad, who incidently left when I was 7, used to say Jemima was me. I was only small. About 3 or 4, maybe 5. I used to love it. I believed him. Fond memories of my dad & me.
Awww Bertie is ADORABLE! I adore rabbits!
Although not credited in on screen originally nor in the Radio Times back on 11th January 1984 and 18th January 1984, Bertie the Rabbit is classed as a guest in this edition according to my autobiography.
Good old Lionel a great singer with the Four Pennies pop group
Chris sounds like Bert the Chimney Sweep here.
Clever sheep
Nothing like the australian version, also i laughed.. the jam donut was unexpected
The sheep film was lovely. And the disco song was very catchy.
verkaforever, the fish song is catchy.
verkaforever, I liked the fish song too performed by Chris and Lionel with help from Michael Omer and Peter Howland.
please forgive me eyes I thought it was sir Paul.doing the cockatoo song. please shake myself up.lol!!!!!
Great upload - would love to see more but Play School seems so rare. Surprisingly nearly all the 1984 episodes exist according to " Here's A House ". Noticed the clock " contraption " brought in at the revamp the previous September seemed to have been dumped. This was the machine that had the ball bearings running through it and was played during the closing theme.
I wonder whether the shift to BBC1 increased the chances of a programme's survival. That would help explain why the 1984 eps are mostly extant.
VideotapeFTW I think the end of the calendar meant more chances of repeats. The frequency of repeats definitely increased - for example by 1985 there were 151 new programmes but 109 repeats. A large proportion if you take into account that by Holy Week, Play School was being broadcast mornings only.
That's a good point. I suppose they were probably selling it abroad more and more, too.
VideotapeFTW Any more epsiodes in your vaults? They still seem a very rare find - well done !
+Andrew Grampian It's a possibility, but I can't say for certain at the moment. I hope so, though. :-)
Man child hood on repeat!!
This episode of Play School to me demonstrates why ths show became less popular. First no calendar, I learnt the days and months of the year through Play School in the late 60s, early 70s, and the clock always being set to "something o'clock", no quarter past, half past or quarter to. Plus not making proper use of Lionel in this particular episode, he was a far moe experienced presenter of the show than Chris or Jane.
Stuart, the storytime clock was always different. It wasn't just always "something o'clock", there were quarter pasts, quarter tos and half pasts there as well. The earliest example being in 1965, where the storytime clock showed "quarter past twelve", with Terrence Frisby, the presenter, saying "That's a completely new time for us, isn't it?"
Also, Lionel. He had already done ten years from 1968 up until 1978, and no doubt, he wanted to move on. A lot of the other presenters decided to move on with their careers after doing ten or more years, Derek Griffiths being a good example, as ten years was enough for him. Lionel was probably more into his music rather than being a children's entertainer, and Derek wanted to focus more on his work as a theatre actor, whilst still presenting some TV work here and there.
Also, it's rather unfair to Jane Hardy when you compare her to such a legendary presenter like Lionel. This was only her first edition after all, and not all presenters are going to be as great as the others during their first programs. It's like saying that Johnny Ball and Jon Glover were more professional than Floella Benjamin was during her first week on the show.
Chris dun gud pulling that doctor bird in Survivors, know wot I mean?..;)
He also married Leela in Doctor Who - The Invasion Of Time.
@@jayrox40 thanks, he must have ditched doctor Ruth in Survivors 1975.
PS- anybody know how i can contact Chris? There's a rumour going round that he fluffed a line in Survivors when he apparently said about two fire victims- "Donny and Pete were right beside the straw", but as there was no 'Pete' in the show maybe we misheard him, and i'd like him to clarify.
Those sheep are good girls cute sheep
Nice
I can't believe you didn't mention Hamble in the info box, although given how much people hated her, it's understandable! I liked Jemima though - me and my sister named our ragdoll after her.
Aw, poor old Hamble - once a social outcast, always a social outcast! In all seriousness, though, I think she'd already been phased out by this point. Humpty was my personal favourite. :-)
Similarity of Australian version of play school on ABC (Australian broadcasting corporation)
Bucks Fizz jumper!
My kids have to look at the old series to see people who look like them.
What did Leela see in him?
What did Ruth see in him?? (just kidding he seems like a good fellow really)
I still don't like the new titles.
What good girls the 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑 are
That wee lamb is clever
Those sheep are good girls cute sheep