Brian Cant (12 July 1933 â€" 19 June 2017) was an English actor of
stage, television and film, television presenter, voice artist and
writer. He was best known for his work in BBC television programmes
for children from 1964 onward, most notably Play School and in later
years Dappledown Farm.Cant was born in Ipswich and educated at
Northgate Grammar School for Boys, a state grammar school, since
renamed Northgate High School. He trained with Ipswich Town F.C.'s
youth team. He worked as a printer before starting to act in the late
1950s.Cant was performing in BBC Schools drama television programmes
about the Romans for the corporation when he heard that auditions were
being held for a new pre-school children's programme which was to be
shown on the new BBC 2 channel. This was Play School. At his audition
he was asked by programme creator and the series' first producer Joy
Whitby to get in a cardboard box and pretend to 'row out to sea'. Cant
pretended to fish from his 'boat' and caught a wellington boot full of
custard. He was cast as a presenter and first appeared on the third
week in May 1964; he stayed with the programme for 21 years of its
24-year run, becoming, according to Whitby, 'Mr Play School'. In an
interview, Cant defended Play School and similar children's programmes
as being designed to encourage children to try out the ideas
presented.
stage, television and film, television presenter, voice artist and
writer. He was best known for his work in BBC television programmes
for children from 1964 onward, most notably Play School and in later
years Dappledown Farm.Cant was born in Ipswich and educated at
Northgate Grammar School for Boys, a state grammar school, since
renamed Northgate High School. He trained with Ipswich Town F.C.'s
youth team. He worked as a printer before starting to act in the late
1950s.Cant was performing in BBC Schools drama television programmes
about the Romans for the corporation when he heard that auditions were
being held for a new pre-school children's programme which was to be
shown on the new BBC 2 channel. This was Play School. At his audition
he was asked by programme creator and the series' first producer Joy
Whitby to get in a cardboard box and pretend to 'row out to sea'. Cant
pretended to fish from his 'boat' and caught a wellington boot full of
custard. He was cast as a presenter and first appeared on the third
week in May 1964; he stayed with the programme for 21 years of its
24-year run, becoming, according to Whitby, 'Mr Play School'. In an
interview, Cant defended Play School and similar children's programmes
as being designed to encourage children to try out the ideas
presented.
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