BBC announces revival of "Play School"
"Ready to knock?" The BBC has announced a revival of the much loved children's show "Play School" almost 40 years after it was axed. The new version will be revamped for the modern age and will air on linear, iPlayer and the new CBeebies Parenting channel on YouTube.
The original version debuted on 21st April 1964 on BBC2, inadvertently becoming the channel's first programme. It featured songs, stories, and the famous toys, as well as launching the careers of the likes of Michael Ball and Floella Benjamin.
The show was axed in 1988 in favour of spinoff "Playdays" (originally known as "Playbus") which ran until 1997, although it was repeated until 2005. A more modern version, "Tikkabilla", debuted in 2002 and lasted 5 years. The format was sold to other countries around the world, most notably Australia, whose version still exists today. It also inspired children's programmes in the US such as "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and "Zoom".
Pitches are now open for interested companies. The new series will consist of fifty 14 minute episodes. The BBC is particularly interested in applications from companies outside of London. Due to the shorter episode length, some of the original elements may not be included. Production is expected to begin next spring, with episodes airing later in the year and in 2028. See the first ever episode of "Play School":
Another iconic BBC show gets rebooted! Did you know that Play School was the first ever programme to air on BBC2 in 1964?