John Hamblin

John Hamblin (1935 – 21 September 2022) known by his character names Funny John, or Naughty John, was an English-born Australian children's television presenter and actor of stage and screen who appeared in theatre productions, soap operas and made-for-TV films.

He presented for 29 years the Australian children's programme Play School from 1970 to 1999 and also appeared in the drama, The Restless Years.

Early life

Hamblin was born in 1935 in Windsor and grew up in Suffolk. When Hamblin's mother moved in with the local baker, his father moved the rest of the family to Norfolk. He lost contact with his mother at that point. Hamblin's father had flown with the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and Hamblin himself joined the Air Force and did his national service in Cyprus in the late 1950s before returning to England. Initially Hamblin trained at art school but decided on a career in acting instead and studied drama to become an actor.

Career

Theatre

Hamblin started his acting career in his native country England, in repertory theatre with the Theatre Royal, Windsor and also worked in old time music hall before an appearance in the cult TV series The Prisoner - the episode 'A Change of Mind'.

Hamblin came to Australia in the early 1960s as a Ten Pound Pom with his second wife, Wendy. Hamblin worked with the Sydney Theatre Company.

Television (soap opera, serials, and telemovies)

Hamblin also secured roles in television throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including roles in soap operas Number 96, Class of '74, The Young Doctors (as Dr Dan Wheatley), Case for the Defence and Sons and Daughters.

Hamblin played the role of Michael Chamberlain in the 1984 telemovie The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain. After a hiatus in the 1990s, he returned to TV series in guest roles in All Saints and Love My Way in the early 2000s.

Play School 1970–1999

Known as being irreverent and inserting double-entendres into skits, Hamblin was the second most prolific presenter of Play School appearing in 357 episodes while fellow presenter Benita Collings appeared in 401 episodes. On the show, Hamblin would sing, read stories, make crafts, play with the toys and educate children about such things as telling the time and the days of the week.

In 2016, he returned briefly for a special guest appearance as part of Play School’s 50th Anniversary special.

Personal life and memoirs

Hamblin moved to Australia with his second wife, Wendy in the 1960s. After Play School, he retired and moved to Tasmania with his third wife Jenny.

In 2003, Hamblin suffered a heart attack. In 2008, he published his memoirs "Open Wide, Come Inside" with Peter Richman.

Death

He died aged 87 on 21 September 2022.