Blimey! How old must Floella Benjamin be - but she looks about 30!

[snowleopard]

Just seen her doing the story on CBeebies (what a pro btw). I remember watching her when I was young enough to watch Play School and I'm 37. Yet she looks significantly younger than me.

[mollymawk]

Indeed. What secret potion does she take to make this happen? I am really only posting to tell you of my proudest moment, which was running the London Marathon and finding I had done it faster than Floella Benjamin!

[southeastastra]

obviously working with stuffed animals and weirdy dollies keeps you looking young

[nell12]

just imdb-ed her. she will be 58 this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Furball]

shes 58!

[fryalot]

maybe the woman that we watched is the Floella Benjamin's daughter, and the real Floella Benjamin is sitting at home wrapped in a chequered blanket looking... well... 58

[seamonster]

Was she on Blue Peter? And would any one know the name of the plastic doll with dark hair and a blue dress? No-one I have ever asked even remembers her.

[mollymawk]

I know how she does it. She has a picture of Brian Cant in her attic, getting older and older and older.

[SuGaRCoAteDPoiSOn]

wsan't the doll called Hamble and it was on Playschool no?

[seamonster]

Of course it was! Durr. Thank you very much. You are a hero to me now. How old do you reckon she was when she started play school? She must have done it for a few years because I'm 31 and watched her on it.

[CODalmighty]

she STILL wears that heart neckalce

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

Thought doll was jemima? {sp}

[snowleopard]

58! 58!!! That's seriously amazing.

Found it quite nostalgic and lovely to see her on actually. Now if they would put Brian Cant (however decrepit) on as well, I would be in telly heaven.

[fryalot]

didn't Brian Cant die


(huge apologies if I'm wrong)

[snowleopard]

Don't think so squonk, unless very very recently (but surely it would have been all over the news) - he was on tour last year and won a poll just in the last month or so for best-loved children's voice or some such.

He also does the singing on a lot of the Jo Jingles recordings which is one of the main things I like about it.

[mollymawk]

There was a Jemima as well - she had stripy legs. And Humpty, and Big Ted and Little Ted.

[fryalot]

my mistake then snowleopard


(sorry Mr. Cant, sir )

[seamonster]

Wasn't Jemima a rag doll? I can't really remember.

[snowleopard]

Jemima was kind of long and droopy and Hamble was plasticky and hard with a shampoo and set-style hairdo. I loved Play School but was mystified by all 5 of the toys as they were without exception deeply unloveable.

[CODalmighty]

i read an accoutn of osmeone modern being in panto wiht cant and he was a ,,, yep you guessed it

[CODalmighty]

i loved littl ted
htey always treated him roughly iirc

[snowleopard]

I'll not hear a word against Brian!