Play School(1964)

Play School is a British children's series that aired on the BBC from 1964 to 1988. Devised by Joy Whitby, it made television history as the first programme ever broadcast on BBC2, launching unexpectedly after a power cut disrupted the channel's opening night. The show became a weekday staple, beginning at 11am and later expanding to include afternoon repeats on BBC1. Its iconic opening—"Here's a house, here's a door. Windows: 1 2 3 4"—introduced generations of young viewers to the show's gentle, educational approach. Play School evolved over its 24-year run, with updated opening sequences and shifting broadcast schedules as BBC programming was reorganised. The series maintained its core appeal through consistent, nurturing content until it was replaced by Playbus in October 1988. A Sunday compilation called Hello Again! launched in 1985 to preserve the show's legacy after the afternoon slot was discontinued.