Toni Arthur facts for kids

Toni Arthur-Hay, born Antoinette Alice Priscilla Wilson on December 27, 1940, is an English theatre director, folk singer, and television presenter. She is best known for hosting popular children's TV shows like Play School and Play Away.

Toni Arthur's Early Life and Education

Toni Arthur was born in Oxford, England. When she was nine years old, she won a special scholarship. This allowed her to study at the Royal Academy of Music. In the same year, she even performed a concert at the famous Wigmore Hall.

She went to Mary Datchelor Girls School in Camberwell and continued her music studies at the Royal Academy of Music. Later, in 1959, Toni started training to be a nurse at University College Hospital. After that, she began studying psychology at University College London.

Toni Arthur's Career Highlights

Toni Arthur has had a varied career, working in television, music, books, and theatre.

Television Work

Toni was a well-loved presenter on two famous children's television shows. These were Play School and Play Away. On these shows, she worked with other presenters like Brian Cant, Jeremy Irons, and Lionel Morton. She also presented Woman's Hour and the breakfast show for TV-am.

Music Career

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Toni released several folk music albums. She often sang with her husband at the time, Dave Arthur. Their first song was "The Cuckoo" / "A Rich and Rambling Boy" in 1965.

Some of their albums included Morning Stands on Tiptoe (1967), The Lark in the Morning (1969), and Hearken to the Witches Rune (1971). Toni remembers traveling around the world and singing in folk clubs.

The album Hearken to the Witches Rune featured traditional songs. These included "Alison Gross", "Tam Lin", and "The Cruel Mother". Some copies of this album even came with a special booklet called 'Magic in Ballads'.

Toni has shared that a BBC producer saw her performing in a folk club. This led to her auditioning for Play School. She got the job, even though she says she was wearing a "very short skirt."

In 1977, Toni also appeared on a BBC album from the Play Away show. This album, called Ready Steady Go – Play Away, had many songs in the Music Hall style. She sang solo songs like "Doctor Foster Tours The World" and "Night Express North Bound." She also performed many songs with Brian Cant.

Books Written by Toni Arthur

Toni Arthur has written several plays and books. One of her children's books is All The Year Round – A Compendium of Games, Customs and Stories. This book was about crafts and ways to celebrate the different seasons. Puffin Books published it on August 27, 1981.

Theatre Directing

In 2003, Toni Arthur directed a play called A Very Naughty Boy. This play was about the life of Graham Chapman. It won a top prize at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is a big arts festival.

Toni Arthur's Personal Life

Toni Arthur married singer and storyteller Dave Arthur in 1963. They had two sons, Jonathan and Tim. They separated in 1977.

She later married Malcolm Hay in 1996. Malcolm Hay passed away in 2023.

Her younger son, Tim, used to be the editor-in-chief and CEO of Time Out. He is now a radio presenter on BBC Radio London.

In 2000, Toni Arthur appeared on a TV show called Mystic Challenge. On the show, she talked about her connection with Buddhism. She explained that she found the idea of knowing yourself before knowing others very helpful. She has been a Buddhist ever since.