Play School

For a whopping 24 years, ‘Play School’ blended tunes, pantomimes, and stories into a cocktail of gentle learning and fun. At its peak, it was helmed by a dynamic duo of hosts per episode (in this instance, Carol Chell and Iain Lauchlan), with a quirky squad of toys lending a hand. Picture this: two teddy bears, Little Ted and Big Ted, bringing the cuddle factor; two dolls, the ever-so-proper Hamble (who got the boot in 1986 for Poppy) and the floppy ragdoll Jemima, adding some doll drama; and the notorious Humpty, a plush egg with limbs and a face, stirring up trouble. It was educational entertainment with a twist, where the toys were almost as famous as the presenters!