Derek Gri ths remembers Play School
A pang of nostalgia will touch the hearts of millions to learn that Play School is 60. For 24 years from 21 April 1964, the programme (officially the first to air on BBC2) offered simple pre-school pleasures such as stories and songs, plus games with the famous toys (Big and Little Ted, Humpty, Jemima and Hamble). Via the square, round or arched window, it also opened up the world for tots by showing short films of biscuits being made in a factory, or kite-flying in China. Derek Griffiths, a star presenter for ten years, reveals his standout memories… “I enjoyed entertaining kids and adults, so Play School was a family show for me,” says the actor and musician, still working at 77. “One presenter, Miranda Connell, saw me in panto and told me I was right for Play School. Sadly, I didn’t know of it!” But the producers saw him on stage and he was invited to audition.
A pair of presenters would guide viewers through each day’s activities — the hosts were constantly rotated and included many other future stars such as husband-and-wife Eric Thompson and Phyllida Law, Carmen Monroe, Brian Cant, Johnny Ball, Toni Arthur and Floella Benjamin.
Griffiths brought an impressive range of skills to the show, from flexible physical acting to comedy and mime. He also had great musical ability, as a singer, writer and multi-instrumentalist. Was he able to introduce any of his own ideas to Play School? “I wanted to bring jazzy pop songs in, to make kids dance around the room. And I heard that they did!”
Other shows to benefit from Griffiths’s gifts were the spin-off series Play Away, plus Cabbages and Kings, Ring-a-Ding!, Heads and
Tails and Bod, where he composed all of the individual character themes. “I had bought a penny whistle, and wondered how I could introduce it as a lead instrument…”
Bearing all this in mind, his answer when asked what people would be surprised to learn about him is itself surprising: “Shyness.”
As for his inanimate co-stars on Play School, Hamble was his least favourite toy, “because she reminded me of a BBC boss I did not get on with!” Any bêtes noires among the pets? “The cockatoo. It was a thug and bit everyone, and caused ructions by screaming during recordings. I failed miserably in teaching it to swear.” And does Griffiths remember any funny moments, perhaps not recorded, during his decade on the series? “Dear Sarah Long and I were dressed up as tramps. Towards the end of the show, we said our goodbyes and there was a pause. I said in desperation, ‘Let’s take all our clothes off!’ Another desperate pause, then stifled guffaws from the crew.”
So who were the most mischievous members of the cast? “Johnny Ball and I together were a riot... they soon separated us!”
He also helped Floella — now Baroness — Benjamin to get a job on the show. “Flo and I were in a West End musical, The Black Mikado. She sang, and had a captivating personality. I told her to apply. She did.” But Griffiths enjoyed working with all his co-presenters. They were, he says, “a very talented and warm, supportive family of artistes”.
Being seen in such a niche role clearly caused him no difficulties in finding work subsequently. “I was an actor, doing plays, films, TV dramas, and was warned doing
Play School would prevent me getting adult work. It didn’t.”
Indeed, aside from his film and theatre work, Griffiths went on to appear in Casualty, Holby City, Doctors, Coronation Street (as Freddie Smith), Midsomer Murders, Small Axe and Unforgotten. And retirement doesn’t enter the equation: “I’ve just finished voice recordings of a comedy drama series with Toyah Willcox.”
Why does he think memories of the show are conjured up with such affection? “Play School to this day is remembered with genuine warmth around the world. I’m always stopped and thanked — even on the edge of a desert in Namibia, where I was forced to sing a rendition of my song Rikki and His Aeroplane!”
MARK BRAXTON
‘Johnny Ball and I together were a riot... they soon separated us!’