About
Play Away is a British television children's programme. A sister programme to the infants' series Play School, it was aimed at slightly older children. It ran from 1971 until 1984, and was broadcast on Saturday afternoons on BBC 2. While Play School had a more gentle, intimate feel, featuring just two presenters in a studio with the usual collection of toys, Play Away was much more lively, including songs, games and many jokes. The first eight series were shot in a studio, usually at BBC Television Centre, London, although certain episodes were recorded in Bristol or Manchester. Later episodes were recorded in front of a live studio audience. The format was a little like a music-hall variety show or 'end-of-the-pier' show. The Musical Director was Jonathan Cohen on piano, with Spike Heatley on double bass and Alan Rushton on drums, often with accomplished guest musicians such as trombonist George Chisholm.
Cast
Seasons
Season 1
Presenters throughout the thirteen-year run included familiar Play School presenters such as Brian Cant, Toni Arthur, Derek Griffiths, Floella Benjamin, Chloe Ashcroft, Johnny Ball, and Julie Stevens, as well as lesser known presenters including Janine Sharp, Roger Martin and Carol Chell. Play Away also played host to future stars such as Anita Dobson, Jeremy Irons and Tony Robinson.
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 8
Season 9
Season 10
Season 11
Season 12
Season 13
Season 14
Episodes
Season 1
Episode 1
Hello Hello. Anita Dobson (making her debut on the show), George Chisholm, Tony Robinson, and Simon the Parrot join Brian Cant and Julie Stevens for the usual jokes, songs, and general fun. This was originally broadcast on Saturday, 25th November, 1978, making it the oldest complete episode I've uploaded of anything. More pressingly, though, this is another important find, as this particular one is missing from the archives. In fact, I'm fairly certain that every single edition of Play Away originally broadcast in the year 1978 had its masters wiped by the Beeb. All of them. The blithering dunderheads.
Episode 2
Episode 3
Money Money Money. Brian Cant, Tony Robinson, Anita Dobson, and Julie Stevens are on duty for more of the usual sketches, jokes, and musical fun, and the title of the episode should give you a clue as to the broad theme. This one was originally broadcast on Saturday, 9th December, 1978
Episode 4
Where does Play Away rank today?
Play Away is #10000 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.
- Highest: #10000
- Top 10: 0 days
- Top 100: 0 days
Watch Play Away Online Free — All Episodes in HD
Looking for a place to watch Play Away online for free? You've landed on the right page. Play Away is a talked-about English series series from 1971 that you can stream right now on Bowood.TV in high quality, no signup required.
About Play Away
Play Away is a British television children's programme. A sister programme to the infants' series Play School, it was aimed at slightly older children. It ran from 1971 until 1984, and was broadcast on Saturday afternoons on BBC 2. While Play School had a more gentle, intimate feel, featuring just two presenters in a studio with the usual collection of toys, Play Away was much more lively, including songs, games and many jokes. The first eight series were shot in a studio, usually at BBC Television Centre, London, although certain episodes were recorded in Bristol or Manchester. Later episodes were recorded in front of a live studio audience. The format was a little like a music-hall variety show or 'end-of-the-pier' show. The Musical Director was Jonathan Cohen on piano, with Spike Heatley on double bass and Alan Rushton on drums, often with accomplished guest musicians such as trombonist George Chisholm. Across 14 seasons and 16 episodes, with status "In Production".
Play Away Cast and Characters
The cast features Brian Cant. Their performances are a major reason Play Away has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch Play Away Online
Bowood.TV lets you stream Play Away online free, instantly, in HD. There's nothing to install — open the page, hit play, done. Works perfectly on Jio, Airtel, Vi networks across India and on slow mobile data thanks to our adaptive video pipeline.
▶ Watch Play Away NowWhy People Are Watching Play Away
Play Away flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Play Away
Where can I watch Play Away online for free?
You can watch Play Away online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does Play Away have?
Play Away has 16 episodes across 14 seasons. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is Play Away good? What's the rating?
Play Away holds a 0.0/10 rating based on 0 reviews — a niche pick worth checking out.
Who is in the cast of Play Away?
The main cast includes Brian Cant.
Is Play Away available in English?
Yes — Play Away was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was Play Away released?
Play Away first aired in 1971.
Do I need an account to watch Play Away on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch Play Away without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Play Away for free?
You can watch Play Away online for free on Bowood.TV. All 16 episodes across 14 seasons are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does Play Away have?
Play Away currently has 14 seasons and a total of 16 episodes. The series status is "In Production", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is Play Away about?
Play Away is a British television children's programme. A sister programme to the infants' series Play School, it was aimed at slightly older children. It ran from 1971 until 1984, and was broadcast on Saturday afternoons on BBC 2. While Play School had a more gentle, intimate feel, featuring just two presenters in…
In which language is Play Away originally available?
Play Away was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was Play Away first released?
Play Away first premiered on November 25, 1971 (1971).
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