Toni Arthur facts for kids

Toni Arthur-Hay, born Antoinette Alice Priscilla Wilson on December 27, 1940, is a talented English theatre director. She was also a folk singer and a popular television presenter.

Early Life and Education

Toni Arthur was born in Oxford, England. She remembers her childhood as "lovely" and "ordinary."

When she was nine years old, Toni won a special scholarship. This allowed her to study at the Royal Academy of Music. In the same year, she 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.

In 1959, Toni Arthur started training to be a nurse. She went to University College Hospital. Later, she began studying psychology at University College London.

Career Highlights

Television Shows

Toni Arthur is best known for hosting children's TV shows. She was a presenter on Play School and Play Away. She worked alongside other presenters like Brian Cant, Jeremy Irons, and Lionel Morton.

She also presented other popular shows. These included Woman's Hour and the breakfast show for TV-am.

Music Journey

Toni Arthur released her first single in 1965. It featured traditional songs called "The Cuckoo" and "A Rich and Rambling Boy." She released it with her group, The Strollers.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Toni released several folk music albums. She made these albums with her husband at the time, Dave Arthur. Some of their albums were Morning Stands on Tiptoe (1967) and The Lark in the Morning (1969). They also released Hearken to the Witches Rune (1971). Toni remembers traveling the world and singing in folk clubs with Dave.

The album Hearken to the Witches Rune came out in 1971. It featured many traditional songs. These included "Alison Gross", "Tam Lin", and "The Cruel Mother". Some copies of this album even came with a special booklet.

Toni once said that a BBC producer saw her singing in a folk club. This producer asked her to try out for a new children's show called Play School. She got the job, even though she was wearing a very short skirt!

In 1977, Toni also appeared on a BBC album. This album was a spin-off from the Play Away TV show. It was called Ready Steady Go – Play Away. The album was full of songs in the Music Hall style. Toni sang solo on tracks like "Doctor Foster Tours The World." She also sang many songs with Brian Cant.

Books Written

Toni Arthur has written several plays and books. One of her children's books is called All The Year Round – A Compendium of Games, Customs and Stories. This book taught kids crafts for celebrating different seasons. Puffin Books published it in 1981.

Theatre Work

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 award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

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 was a comedy editor for Time Out Magazine.

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

In 2000, Toni Arthur talked about her connection to Buddhism. She said she found the idea of knowing yourself first, before others, suited her. She has been a Buddhist ever since.