# John Hamblin

John Reginald Hamblin (18 March 1935 – 21 September 2022), known affectionately as "Funny John" or "Naughty John", was a British-born Australian children's television presenter and actor of stage and screen who appeared in theatre productions, soap operas and made-for-TV films.
Hamblin was a presenter on the Australian children's television program Play School for 29 years, from 1970 to 1999. He featured in more than 350 episodes and became the second-longest-serving presenter in the program's history, after Benita Collings, with whom he often presented.

## Early life

Hamblin was born on 18 March 1935 in Ash, Surrey, England, 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.
Hamblin initially trained at art school for six months but decided on a career in acting instead, and he studied drama to become an actor.

## Career
### Theatre

Hamblin started his acting career in England in repertory theatre with the Theatre Royal, Windsor. He also worked in old time music hall.
After emigrating to Australia, Hamblin continued to work in theatre over 25 years, from 1970 until 1995, including Blithe Spirit and a stage show of Play School.
Hamblin also toured in the stage play Crown Matrimonial as King Edward VIII.

### Television

In 1967, Hamblin made an appearance in the cult British TV series The Prisoner in the episode "A Change of Mind".
After migrating to Australia, Hamblin secured roles in television from the late 1960s until the late 1980s, including roles in soap operas, becoming notable for his role in series The Restless Years as A.R. Jordan. His TV credits also include 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 presenter

Known as being irreverent and inserting double-entendres into skits, Hamblin was the second-most-prolific presenter of Play School, appearing in 357 episodes from 1970 to 1999, 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. Hamblin is especially remembered for his presenting partnership with longtime hosts Benita Collings and Noni Hazlehurst.
Hamblin returned briefly for a special guest appearance in 2016, as part of Play School's 50th anniversary special.
Many bloopers of Hamblin's time on Play School have since resurfaced, most of which feature him forgetting lines or making sexually explicit jokes.

## Personal life

Hamblin came to Australia in the 1960s as a "Ten Pound Pom" with his second wife, Wendy. After Play School, he retired and moved to Tasmania with his third wife, Jenny, whom he married in 1984. He had two children, Emma and Myles. He suffered a heart attack in 2003. In 2008, he published his memoirs, Open Wide, Come Inside, with Peter Richman.
Hamblin died at a hospital in Sydney on 21 September 2022, aged 87.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1976 | The Bushranger | Sergeant Dunbar | TV movie |
| 1983 | Who Killed Baby Azaria? | Michael Chamberlain | TV movie |
| 1984 | Run Chrissie Run! | Cathy's father | Feature film |
| 1984 | Crime of the Decade | Ian Henderson | TV movie |
| 1984 | A Street to Die | Dr. Walker | Feature film |
| 2009 | There's a Heaven Above You | Background | Film short |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1959 | Quartermass and the Pit | Newsvendor | TV miniseries |
| 1959 | Season of Passion | uncredited | TV series |
| 1960 | Scotland Yard | Thomas Miller | TV series |
| 1967 | The Prisoner | 1st Woodland Man | TV series, season 1, episode 12: A Change of Mind |
| 1969 | Riptide | Wallace's Mate | TV series |
| 1970–99 | Play School | Himself as host | TV series |
| 1971 | The Comedy Game | | TV series |
| 1972 | Number 96 | Dr. Mike Cavanagh | TV series |
| 1974 | This Love Affair | Andrew | TV series |
| 1974–75 | Class of 75 | Donald Blair | TV series |
| 1977 | The Young Doctors | Dr. Dan Wheatley | TV series |
| 1978 | Case for the Defence | John Case | TV series |
| 1979 | Skyways | Bob Kennedy | TV series |
| 1978–80 | The Restless Years | A.R. Jordan | TV series |
| 1980 | Spring & Fall | | TV series |
| 1980 | The Timeless Land | Robert Campbell | TV miniseries |
| 1982 | Secret Valley | Mr. Melrose | TV series |
| 1983 | Starting Out | Dr. James Holt | TV series |
| 1984 | The Last Bastion | Anthony Eden | TV miniseries |
| 1984 | Runaway Island | Lachlan McLeod | TV series |
| 1985 | Winners | Doctor | TV series |
| 1986 | Tusitala | Dr. Eisner | TV miniseries |
| 1987 | Sons and Daughters | Frank Porter | TV series |
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Tom Herman | TV series |
| 2000 | All Saints | Alex Knight | TV series |
| 2001 | Pizza | Judge | TV series |
| 2006 | Love My Way | Clive | TV series |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1970 | The Trials of Hilary Pouncefortt | | Neutral Bay Music Hall |
| 1971 | Exposed to Danger, or, Little Nell in the Klondyke | | Neutral Bay Music Hall |
| 1971 | Land Of Dreaming | | UNSW Parade Theatre |
| 1972 | The Spring Heeled Terror of Stepney Green | | Neutral Bay Music Hall |
| 1977 | Lust for Power, or Perils at Parramatta | Harry Masterman | Neutral Bay Music Hall |
| 1978 | Crown Matrimonial | Edward VIII | Seymour Centre, Mayfair Theatre, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth |
| 1982 | The Anniversary | | Phillip Street Theatre |
| 1982 | The Circle | | Theatre Royal, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne |
| 1984 | Caravan | | Playhouse, Sydney Opera House |
| 1985 | Crown Matrimonial | | Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Twelfth Night Theatre, Cairns Civic Theatre, Townsville Civic Theatre, Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre Centre |
| 1987 | Blithe Spirit | | Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Glen Street Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre, Newcastle Civic Theatre |
| 1991 | Run for Your Wife | | Glen Street Theatre |
| 1993 | Away | | Riverside Theatres, Parramatta |
| 1995 | Play School - The Big Show | | Regal Theatre, Perth |