Brian Cant, Play School’s smiling star, is dead at 83
FORMER Play School host Brian Cant has died at the age of 83.
The presenter and actor had been living with Parkinson’s disease, his agent said.
Born in Ipswich in 1933, Cant was making schools’ programmes when he was hired as a Play School presenter in 1964 – after an audition that required him to get into a cardboard box and pretend to row out to sea.
He remained with the show for 21 of its 24 years, becoming a face and voice synonymous with children’s television.
Along with co-host Julie Stevens, he was part of the Play Away team, the spin- off aimed at an older audience.
The presenter’s voice was also familiar to viewers of Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley as he narrated the tales of Windy Miller, Chippy Minton and PC McGarry. He famously voiced the Trumpton Fire Brigade roll call of ‘Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb’.
Cant was a guest presenter of Jackanory and hosted Bric-A-Brac in the 1980s. He also appeared in two Doctor Who stories – 1965’s The Daleks’ Master Plan, and The Dominators in 1968. He was honoured with a special Children’s Bafta award in 2010.
The TV star continued to work sporadically in his later years, making his third appearance in the drama Doctors in 2011.
He also appeared in theatre productions such as The Railway Children and The Canterbury Tales, as well as pantomimes.
Cant once said in an interview that he was surprised so many fans remembered him as a legend in children’s television.
‘It’s obviously very kind and very rewarding to have that effect but I can’t believe it was that important to everyone,’ he said.
He married writer and director Cherry Britton in 1984 and they had three children. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1999.
Fellow Play School presenter Derek Griffiths was among those to pay tribute yesterday, writing on Twitter: ‘Goodbye, Brian Cant. You’ll be missed by many. Thanks for the laughs. #PlaySchool Dx.’
Former Top Gear host James May tweeted: ‘Brian Cant – genuinely sad for people my age. Let’s just say he’s passed away-a-wayway. #RIPBrian.’
A statement from Cant’s family said: ‘It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Brian Cant has died aged 83 at Denville Hall [retirement home]. He lived courageously with Parkinson’s disease for a long time. Brian was best known and well-loved for his children’s programmes Play School and Play Away and was honoured by Bafta in 2010.’
÷Carol Vorderman has revealed her mother has died following a battle with cancer.
The former Countdown star, 56, tweeted yesterday: ‘Some days are tough, today was one of them. Today was my amazing mum’s funeral … Rest In Peace Jean Vorderman. You will always be loved.’