Veteran Play School presenter Janet Kingsbury died earlier this month aged 85.
No cause of death was given, but he was believed to be in poor health following his retirement from show business in 2016, it reports. TV tonight.
The English-born entertainer co-hosted the long-running ABC children’s program from 1969 to 1986.
As one of the original stars of the beloved show, Janet was known for always performing with energy and enthusiasm alongside her teddy bear co-stars.
She began her esteemed acting career in 1968 with a guest role on the popular children’s series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
Over the next few decades, Janet appeared on many of Australia’s most iconic shows including A Country Practice, Home and Away, GP and All Saints.
Veteran Play School presenter Janet Kingsbury died earlier this month aged 85 (pictured in the series in 1969).
Her last appearance was as a guest in 2016 in the Channel Nine drama series Doctor Doctor, alongside Rodger Corser and Ryan Johnson.
The entertainer worked with some of Australia’s most famous artists throughout her celebrated career, including Steve Bisley, John Jarratt, Ray Meagher and Georgie Parker.
Janet was married to Australian filmmaker Arch Nicholson, who directed episodes of the shows Mission: Impossible and The Flying Doctors, from 1972 until his death in 1990.
She starred in her husband’s 1987 cult film Dark Age, about a killer crocodile on the loose in regional Australia, alongside Wolf Creek star John Jarratt and David Gulpilil.
Janet was a notoriously private person and very little is known about her personal life, including whether she had children with her husband.
His tragic passing comes just weeks after veteran Play School presenter Ken Shorter tragically died in Sydney, aged 79.
Throughout its 58 years on air, Play School has been presented by around 100 presenters.
Families have spent decades watching the legendary hosts help preschoolers learn, feel and imagine on the heartwarming show.
No cause of death was given, but he was believed to be in poor health following his retirement from show business in 2016.
The English-born entertainer co-hosted the long-running ABC children’s show from 1969 to 1986.
In September 2023, ABC Australia shared behind-the-scenes secrets from filming the iconic children’s television series Play School.
The broadcaster posted a video on TikTok, revealing the reality of filming the long-running children’s show.
In the video, hosts Andrew and Kaeng are seen singing while holding toys, including Humpty and Big Ted on a boat.
The camera then pans to reveal several cast members sitting on the floor and moving a blue sheet from side to side to mimic waves.
Others are also seen holding birds and fish on long sticks and slowly moving them towards the frame.
The post comes after Zoë Foster Blake recently appeared on the long-running ABC children’s series.
The Wrong Girl author, 42, shared photos on Instagram in March of her visit to the Play School set and captioned it with some exciting words.
‘When Play School can’t get their teddy bears to sleep, who do they call? Pajama woman! (Me),’ he wrote.