Veteran Play School presenter Janet Kingsbury died earlier this month aged 85.
No cause of death was given, but she was believed to be in poor health following her retirement from showbusiness in 2016, reports TV Tonight.
The English-born entertainer was a co-presenter on the long-running ABC children’s show from 1969-1986.
As one of the original stars of the beloved show, Janet was renowned for always presenting 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 kids series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
Over the next few decades, Janet went on to appear on many of Australia’s most iconic programs, including A Country Practice, Home and Away, GP and All Saints.
Veteran Play School presenter Janet Kingsbury died earlier this month aged 85. (Pictured on the series in 1969)
Her final appearance was a guest role in 2016 on the Channel Nine drama series Doctor Doctor, opposite Rodger Corser and Ryan Johnson.
The upbeat entertainer worked with some of Australia’s most famous performers 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 acted in her husband’s cult 1987 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 individual and very little is known about her personal life, including whether she had any children with her husband.
Her tragic passing comes just weeks after fellow Play School veteran presenter Ken Shorter tragically died in Sydney, aged 79.
Across its 58 years on the air, Play School has been hosted by around 100 presenters.
Families have spent decades watching the legendary presenters help preschool children to learn, feel and imagine on the heartwarming program.
No cause of death was given, but she was believed to be in poor health following her retirement from showbusiness in 2016
The English born entertainer was a co-presenter on the long-running ABC children’s show from 1969 – 1986
In September 2023, ABC Australia has shared behind-the-scenes secrets of filming iconic children’s TV series Play School.
The broadcaster posted a video to TikTok, revealing the reality of filming the long-running children’s show.
In the video, presenters Andrew and Kaeng are seen singing while holding toys including Humpty and Big Ted in a boat.
The camera then pans out to reveal several cast members sitting on the floor and moving a blue sheet from side to side to imitate waves.
Others are also seen holding birds and fish on longs sticks and slowly moving them into the frame.
The post comes after Zoë Foster Blake recently made an appearance on the long-running ABC children’s series.
The Wrong Girl author, 42, shared photos to 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 teddies to sleep, who do they call?! Pyjama Woman! (Me),’ she wrote.
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