Playschool star Monica Trapaga, 56, says she was sacked for being ‘too old’

Former Playschool and Better Homes and Gardens star Monica Trapaga has recalled how TV executives turfed her out because she was getting ‘too old’ and replaced her with ‘younger soapie star types’.

The veteran entertainer, 56, said on Thursday she was one the casualties of a policy at the ABC in the late ’90s to replace older presenters with younger talent.

‘The kids loved them [the older hosts on Playschool], the show was going great, but somewhere along the way some executive decided to do a sweep of all the older generation presenters,’ she told The Australian.

She was proud of Playschool for being a trailblazer for its time by casting stars from different cultural backgrounds, as well as older and disabled presenters. 

During her tenure from 1990 to 1998 she co-hosted alongside the likes of Benita Collings, Noni Hazlehurst, Colin Buchanan, John Hamblin and George Spartels.

But she said they were all replaced by ‘younger soapie star types’ by the turn of the century, Monica said. 

Memories: The veteran entertainer, 56, said on Thursday she was one the casualties of a policy at the ABC in the late ’90s to replace older presenters with younger talent. Pictured: Monica (right) with co-host Simon Burke

Swept aside: ‘The kids loved them [the older hosts on Playschool], the show was going great, but somewhere along the way some executive decided to do a sweep of all the older generation presenters,’ she told The Australian 

Monica also recalled her stint on Channel Seven’s Better Homes and Gardens as a decorating presenter from 1997 to 2003.

She alleged an executive at the network didn’t want anyone appearing on the show who didn’t look ‘f**kable’, so when she reached 40 her contract wasn’t renewed 

The jazz singer and recent National Art School graduate told the publication that ageism needs to be taken seriously in Australia.

Different times: Monica also alleged that a Channel Seven executive didn’t want anyone appearing on Better Homes and Gardens who didn’t look ‘f**kable’, so when she reached 40 her contract wasn’t renewed. Pictured in 2006

‘So much ageism happens unconsciously and it’s allowed to keep happening because we don’t feel sufficiently informed or empowered to push back,’ she said.

Monica has since moved on from her television career and is now a host on digital radio station ABC Jazz. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ABC and Channel Seven for comment. 

Time for change: The jazz singer told the publication that ageism needs to be taken seriously in Australia. Pictured with her former Playschool co-host Colin Buchanan