John Hamblin Explained

John Hamblin
Birth Name:John Reginald Hamblin
Birth Date:1935 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Ash, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Death Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Years Active:1955–2016
Occupation:Television presenter, actor

John Reginald Hamblin (18 March 1935 – 21 September 2022), known affectionately as "Funny John" or "Naughty John",[1] 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[2] in Ash, Surrey, England,[3] 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.[4]

Hamblin also toured in the stage play Crown Matrimonial as King Edward VIII.[5]

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.[6] 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,[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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 Schools 50th anniversary special.[10]

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.[11] He suffered a heart attack . In 2008, he published his memoirs, Open Wide, Come Inside, with Peter Richman.[12] [13]

Hamblin died at a hospital in Sydney on 21 September 2022, aged 87.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1976The Bushranger[14] Sergeant DunbarTV movie
1983Who Killed Baby Azaria?Michael ChamberlainTV movie
1984Run Chrissie Run!Cathy's fatherFeature film
Crime of the DecadeIan Henderson TV movie
A Street to Die Dr. WalkerFeature film
2009There's a Heaven Above YouBackgroundFilm short

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1959Quartermass and the Pit[15] NewsvendorTV miniseries
Season of Passion[16] [17] uncredited TV series
1960Scotland YardThomas MillerTV series
1967The Prisoner1st Woodland ManTV series, season 1, episode 12: A Change of Mind
1969RiptideWallace's MateTV series
1970–99Play School[18] Himself as hostTV series
1971The Comedy GameTV series
1972Number 96Dr. Mike CavanaghTV series
1974This Love Affair[19] AndrewTV series
1974–75Class of 75[20] Donald BlairTV series
1977The Young Doctors[21] Dr. Dan WheatleyTV series
1978Case for the Defence[22] John CaseTV series
1979SkywaysBob KennedyTV series
1978–80The Restless Years[23] A.R. JordanTV series
1980Spring & FallTV series
The Timeless LandRobert CampbellTV miniseries
1982Secret Valley[24] Mr. MelroseTV series
1983Starting OutDr. James HoltTV series
1984The Last BastionAnthony EdenTV miniseries
Runaway Island[25] Lachlan McLeodTV series
1985WinnersDoctorTV series
1986Tusitala[26] Dr. EisnerTV miniseries
1987Sons and Daughters[27] Frank PorterTV series
1988Rafferty's RulesTom HermanTV series
2000All SaintsAlex KnightTV series
2001Pizza[28] JudgeTV series
2006Love My WayCliveTV series

Theatre

YearTitleRoleType
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
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
[29]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Hamblin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153624/https://about.abc.net.au/statements/john-hamblin/ . 22 September 2022 . 21 September 2022 . About the ABC . en-AU.
  2. Book: Alan Veitch . The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz . 1984 . Sunshine Books . 0867770570 . Atterton . Margot . 16520399.
  3. Web site: Hamblin, John, 1935- . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153634/https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=52238972 . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . Libraries Australia.
  4. Web site: John Hamblin. AusStage. 23 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220607061218/https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/225538 . 7 June 2022.
  5. Web site: The Restless Years. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218091554/https://members.ozemail.com.au/~fangora/restless.html . 2020-02-18 .
  6. Web site: The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain (1983) – The Screen Guide – Screen Australia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210426213814/https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-disappearance-of-azaria-chamberlain-1983/211 . 26 April 2021 . 22 June 2021 . www.screenaustralia.gov.au.
  7. Web site: 5 July 2016 . Play School is 'rife with double entendres' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211114/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/tv-shows/play-school-is-rife-with-double-entendres/news-story/dca9fe3cf4ad6f45a4151727abd67005 . 24 June 2021 . 22 June 2021 . NewsComAu . en.
  8. Web site: Moment in Time – Episode 29 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150427144558/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/canwehelp/txt/s2669799.htm . 27 April 2015 . 20 April 2015.
  9. Web site: Play School . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153633/https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/play-school/ . 22 September 2022 . 22 June 2021 . www.abc.net.au . en.
  10. Web site: Molk . Steve . 21 September 2022 . Play School icon JOHN HAMBLIN dies aged 87 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153645/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/09/21/play-school-icon-john-hamblin-dies-aged-87/ . 22 September 2022 . 21 September 2022 . TV Blackbox . en-AU.
  11. News: 21 September 2022 . 'Unforgettable' long-time Play School presenter, 'Naughty' John Hamblin dies aged 87 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153638/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-21/beloved-playschool-television-presenter-john-hamblin-dies-at-87/101463940 . 22 September 2022.
  12. News: Craig . Natalie . 20 May 2008 . Don't tell the children . The Age . live . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210622100023/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/dont-tell-the-children-20080520-ge73ht.html . 22 June 2021.
  13. Book: Richman . Peter . Open Wide, Come Inside . 2008 . Peter Richman Productions . 978-0-9775942-7-6 . 23 September 2022 . en.
  14. Book: Murray, Scott . Australia on the Small Screen, 1970–1995: The Complete Guide to Tele-features and Mini-series . Oxford University Press . 1996 . 9780195539493 . 21.
  15. Web site: John Hamblin . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153640/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba3184a65 . 22 September 2022 . 21 September 2022 . BFI.org . British Film Institute.
  16. Web site: John Hamblin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153638/https://rtv2-production-2-6.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/john_hamblin . 22 September 2022 . 21 September 2022 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  17. Web site: John Hamblin List of Movies and TV Shows . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153645/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-hamblin/credits/3030131875/ . 22 September 2022 . 21 September 2022 . TV Guide.
  18. Woman's Day. 21 September 2020 . 54 Years of 'Play School' Where are they now? John Hamblin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153634/https://www.pressreader.com/australia/womans-day-australia/20200921/283613877589050 . 22 September 2022 . 23 September 2022.
  19. News: 27 May 1974 . Love affair with a dream . The Sydney Morning Herald . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153652/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120431269/ . 22 September 2022.
  20. Book: Moran, Albert . Australian Television Drama Series: 1956–1981 . Australian Film, Television and Radio School . 1989 . 9780642121639 . 44.
  21. News: O'Brien . Kerrie . 21 September 2022 . Much-loved Play School presenter 'naughty John' Hamblin dies . The Sydney Morning Herald . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220921135313/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity/much-loved-play-school-presenter-naughty-john-hamblin-dies-20220921-p5bjzp.html . 21 September 2022.
  22. Web site: John Hamblin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925005914/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/john_hamblin . 25 September 2020 . 21 September 2022 . Rotten Tomatoes.
  23. News: 28 March 2022 . Benita Collings 'Why I Had to Leave TV' . . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153637/https://www.pressreader.com/australia/womans-day-australia/20220328/281895891745958 . 22 September 2022.
  24. News: 24 December 1980 . Out of the ashes comes Secret Valley . 48 . The Australian Women's Weekly . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210224074058/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/43740323 . 24 February 2021.
  25. News: 30 September 1981 . Runaway Island – for European eyes only . 128 . The Australian Women's Weekly . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180303051034/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51588453 . 3 March 2018.
  26. News: Bridekirk . Susan . September 1986 . Scot of the Pacific . 49 . Cinema Papers . 59 . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153651/https://archivesonline.uow.edu.au/assets/download/38050 . 22 September 2022.
  27. News: 6 June 2008 . Paula Begoun and John Hamblin . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153648/https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/06/06/2269945.htm . 22 September 2022.
  28. News: Adams . Cameron . 3 September 2001 . Television . 95 . Herald Sun . Melbourne . live . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153644/https://www.proquest.com/docview/360266051 . 22 September 2022 . . ProQuest.
  29. Web site: AusStage .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "John Hamblin".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.