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Iconic children’s television show Play School has won over generations of fans in its almost 60 years on Australian screens.
Families have spent decades watching legendary hosts help preschoolers learn, feel and imagine on the heartwarming show.
Now, ABC has paid tribute to its Play School hosting rotation with an additional special series spanning its 58 years on the air and featuring the return of many familiar faces.
Over its 363 seasons, Play School has been hosted by around 100 presenters, and many of them have now reappeared on screen to commemorate the show’s history.
Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at what the iconic stars have been up to since their time on the children’s show as they return to the franchise.
ABC paid tribute to its Play School hosts with a series spanning its 58 years on the air and featuring the return of many familiar faces (pictured: Mónica Trápaga on the show in 1990 and 2024).
Monica Trapaga
Monica appeared on Play School from 1990 to 1998 and left fans stunned when she returned for the nostalgic special series, titled Big Ted’s Time Machine.
The new series sees A different duo of current presenters travel back in time up to a decade from the 1950s onwards, with former presenters making guest appearances.
And Monica appeared as a television reporter in the 1960s episode, making a very special cameo that left parents nostalgic for their own childhood.
Viewers instantly recognized her as she has barely aged a day since her Play School days, although she has stepped away from children’s television in recent years.
Since her days on the iconic children’s show, Monica has focused on music, taking the stage as a jazz singer.
Monica appeared in Play School from 1990 to 1998, but has since become a jazz singer and cabaret star.
She frequently shares snapshots of herself on stage accompanied by jazz bands as she continues to find success performing across the country with the group.
She hasn’t completely shied away from her presenting roots, as she is also the host of Dinner Set on ABC Jazz.
Monica has also followed her passion as a gardener, working at Longreef Beach House.
Georgie Parker
Georgie became a fan favorite while hosting Play School from 2006 to 2012, and she’s back for some ’70s fun in the new series.
Before working on the children’s television show, Georgie had already carved out a career as a soap opera actress.
She starred in All Saints’ Day in the early 2000s and also played Lucy Gardiner in A Country Practice.
Since Play School, Georgie has continued to work as a soap actress and still appears on the iconic Australian show Home and Away.
She first played Roo Stewart on the soap in 2010 and has become a long-running and recognizable face on the show.
Georgie was also recently involved in the filming of the romantic comedy He Loves Me Not and appeared on stage in The Great Divide at the Ensemble Theatre.
Georgie became a fan favorite while hosting Play School from 2006 (left) to 2012, and she’s back for some ’70s fun in the new series (right).
Before working on the children’s television show, Georgie had already built a career as a soap actress and has worked on Home and Away since 2010.
George Espartels
While George starred in Play School from 1985 to 1999, he is also known for another television role.
George played Benito Alessi in the Australian soap opera Neighbors from 1992 until the following year.
The presenter has also worked over the years as a director, playwright and children’s musician, trying his hand at various jobs.
He had a number of acting jobs during the ’80s and ’90s, and has taken on some television roles in recent years, including in City Homicide and All Saints.
More recently, he worked as a narrator and provided his voice for The Adventures of Wolfdogg and Little Red Riding Hood.
While George starred in Play School from 1985 (left) to 1999, he is also known for another television role (just in his return to Play School in 2024).
George played Benito Alessi on the Australian soap opera from 1992 until the following year in a brief soap career.
Don Spencer
Don was a fan favorite of Play School in its early days, having started on the show in 1968, just two years after its launch.
He remained part of the presenting team until 1999 and also appeared on the British version of the show from 1972 to 1988.
Don remains one of the only presenters to have worked on both versions of the long-running show, proving to be a firm fan favourite.
In addition to his hosting gigs, Don has also become a well-known musician and continues to showcase his talent to this day.
In 1963, he released his first single Fireball, which was a theme song from the British science fiction series Fireball XL5, and reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.
Don was a fan favorite on Play School in its early days, having started on the show in 1968, just two years after its launch (pictured left in 1968 and right in the new episode of 2024).
After leaving Play School, she set up the Australian Children’s Music Foundation, a not-for-profit group that provides weekly music classes for disadvantaged children across Australia.
Founder Don said of the organization: ‘I have seen firsthand, time and time again, how music sparks creativity and imagination.
‘Music sustains the resilience and determination that many Australian children need to overcome the challenges that life presents them. You can never underestimate the power of music.’
Don has worked on a variety of children’s music and most recently recorded the song Hold On To Your Dream.
Families were delighted by the return of Play School icons to the screen this month as they took to social media to express nostalgia for the long-running series.
In addition to his hosting gigs, Don has also become a well-known musician and frequently works on songs and children’s television shows.
Fans commented on how easily recognizable the stars were despite years off the air and praised their timeless looks.
One fan wrote on Facebook: ‘Wow, they all look amazing! Well done x’, while another said: ‘Monica needs to reveal her skincare regime because she doesn’t age!’ Beautiful!’
Parents were also excited to see the hosts from their own childhood back on screen as they shared their joy over the “amazing” and nostalgic episodes.
One said: ‘These presenters are my childhood. Monica and George in particular,” another wrote: “It’s really cool to see the faces I grew up with in the new episodes.”
A third added: “Loved watching with my kids this week and seeing lots of familiar faces from when I was a kid.”
Play School is currently presented by a host of long-serving presenters, including Justine Clarke and Alex Papps (pictured May 2016).
‘I hope they know how much happiness they have brought to children for many, many years. They are all very adored,” said another.
A fifth gushed: ‘We’ve had these amazing episodes on high rotation! Very funny!’
‘I watched the 70’s episode this morning and it was AMAZING! “I feel very happy for these nostalgic memories,” wrote one.
Play School is currently presented by a host of long-standing presenters including Abi Tucker, Alex Papps, Andrew McFarlane, Emma Palmer and Justine Clarke.
Newer names like Hunter Page-Lochard, Kaeng Chan, Miah Madden and Eddie Perfect have also joined the long list in recent years.
