Film is Fabulous! and De Montfort University’s Cinema and Television History research centre are pleased to announce the recovery of an episode of vintage children’s television, missing from the BBC Archive:

Play School (Broadcast: 12th August 1965)

Play School was a ‘nursery school’ show for children under five, which ran for 24 years from 1964. Indeed, the programme is currently celebrating its 60th Anniversary, so the recovery of a missing episode is timely.

The black and white episode recovered by the Film is Fabulous! team was presented by Marian Diamond and Rick Jones. Marian appeared in 61 episodes of Play School between 1964 and 1967. Sadly, due to the BBC’s wiping policy, only six of her episodes had survived, prior to the discovery of this print. Rick presented 447 shows between 1964 and 1973, the seventh longest-serving presenter, of which 62 are held in the BBC Archive.

Paul R. Jackson, author of the two volume book, entitled: ‘Here’s A House – A Celebration of Play School’, has been assisting Film is Fabulous! to identify the episode. Paul has remained good friends with both Joy Whitby (founding producer), and Marian Diamond. He has informed them of the find. They are both delighted to see its return, 59 years after it was first aired, and look forward to seeing it again in the near future.

Film is Fabulous! Preserving film treasures for future generations.

14th October 2024