Play School star Benita Collings, 79, reveals how she nearly DIDN’T get her iconic role on the ABC children’s program – before going on to celebrate 30 years on the show
Benita Collings was a a fixture on children’s program Play School for 30 years.
And now the 79-year-old has revealed how she almost missed out on the iconic role.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, Benita said she flopped during her first audition due to not knowing the script properly.
Near miss: On Saturday, Play School star Benita Collings, 79, has revealed how she almost didn’t get her iconic role on the ABC program. Betina is pictured left, on an episode of the show with co-star John Hamblin
‘Embarrassingly, I didn’t really know my script properly and I couldn’t get the gig,’ she told the publication.
However, she said it was two years later when she was asked to re-audition for the role, which she landed.
‘Two years later, apparently on the strengths of my storytelling, I was invited to audition again and was taken on board.’
Oops! ‘Embarrassingly, I didn’t really know my script properly and I couldn’t get the gig,’ she told the publication, only to be asked to audition two years later. Pictured on Play School
She added that her favourite toy on the show was ‘Big Ted’, a yellow, fluffy bear that is recognisable to a whole generation of Australian children.
Benita appeared on the iconic ABC children’s program from 1969 to 1999.
The entertainer most frequently performed alongside fellow long-serving host of the show, John Hamblin.
Missed: Her favourite toy on the show was Big Ted – a yellow, fluffy bear. Pictured: Cast member Jay Laga’aia with Big Ted
The ABC children’s program marked 50 years on TV in 2016, with the special Big Ted’s Excellent Adventure: 50 Years of Play School.
Surprisingly, the behind-the-scenes special revealed some racy moments from the iconic show’s history, involving Benita.
Benita confessed that her ‘bouncing’ assets caused some older viewers to tune in for the wrong reasons during her time on the show.
Limelight: Benita has largely shunned the spotlight after leaving as a presenter on the show in 1999, after 30 years on the children’s program. Pictured in recent years
Free spirited Benita, who used to go braless, confessed that people would come into the studio while she was filming ‘to see me bouncing up and down!’
Eventually, ABC producers asked busty Benita to start wearing a bra to stop her assets from becoming such a distraction.
The beauty even said that the attention resulted in somebody writing a song about her chest: ‘I got an ode to my boobs. It was an ode to Bonita’s boobs!’ she laughed.
As well as Play School she appeared in a number of classic Australian shows including A Country Practice and Homicide.
Star: As well as Play School she appeared in a number of classic Australian shows including A Country Practice and Homicide