Iconic children's programme Play School celebrates its 50th anniversary today (April 21).

The show launched on April 21, 1964 and is noted for being the first programme to air on BBC Two.

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Courtesy of Paul R Jackson collection


Play School ran for 24 years until 1988 and was fronted by presenters including Brian Cant, Carol Chell, Johnny Ball, Derek Griffiths and Floella Benjamin.

The programme celebrated landmarks such as becoming the first children's programme broadcast in colour on BBC Two in 1968, and became the first children's show in the UK to feature a black host when Paul Danquah joined the team in 1965.

To mark half a century since the show's launch, Play School will be part of a special exhibition commemorating Children's BBC called 'Here's One We Made Earlier', which is due to open in July at The Lowry in Manchester.

The Children's Media Foundation are also supporting a special reunion of people who worked on the show.

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Former head of BBC Children's and Play School researcher Anna Home said: "Play School was absolutely ahead of its time in terms of its content, production techniques and presenting style.

"You only have to look at today's children's programming to see how it has inspired generations of presenters and programme-makers way beyond its 24 years on screen."

Former presenter Brian Jameson went on to create more recent CBeebies favourite Balamory, while Iain Lauchlan co-devised and produced The Tweenies.

Back in 2012, ex-Play School host Johnny Ball claimed that some of the presenters were "stoned out of their minds" while fronting the programme.

Watch the intro to Play School from 1973 below: