Play School presenters were stoned on set – Daily TV round-up

Former children's TV presenter Johnny Ball has revealed that some of the other presenters on 'Play School' were stoned on set.

Speaking about the show's golden era in the 60s and 70s for a documentary on the BBC's Television Centre, he said that cannabis use was commonplace:

[Related story: Police find 20 cannabis farms 'every day']

“There was Rick Jones, Lionel Morton and myself. They got stoned on the biggest joint you’ve ever seen - in the studio.

 “We were in silhouette as the three shepherds with our crooks. Lionel purposely held his crook so the crook didn’t show. They were absolutely stoned out of their minds.”

73-year-old Johnny, father of TV star Zoe Ball, added that he didn't partake himself, laughing that 'I couldn't work with it, I really couldn't'.

Rick Jones also fronted the show 'Fingerbobs', while Lionel Morton presented 'Play Away'.

Sir David Attenborough also chimes in about the brazen use of drugs in the building in the documentary, saying that he would tell people: “Look, please, don’t smoke that stuff openly so we can all smell it. Just be sensible.”

It's also revealed that people would often use dressing rooms for sex.

Ex-'Doctor Who' actress Katy Manning said: “People were bonking all over the BBC. Everybody was doing it on the premises.”

'Tales of Television Centre' is on BBC Four on 17 May. [The Sun]

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