Brian Cant to be honoured at children's Baftas

Cant also appeared on children's shows including Play Away and Bric-a-Brac

Former Play School presenter Brian Cant is to be honoured with the special award at this year's children's Baftas.

Cant, who also voiced characters on shows including Trumpton and Camberwick Green, said he was "delighted, thrilled and above all honoured" by the award.

He will pick up his prize from Matt Baker at the children's Baftas ceremony in London on 28 November.

Cant, 77, who appeared on Doctor Who in the 1960s, presented Play School for 21 years from May 1964.

Cant said Play School presenters were told by producers to "play to the camera as though we were talking to one child, in whatever circumstance".

"It could be somebody in a tower block, a nice semi-detached somewhere, or a Royal palace," he added.

"You had to phrase everything so, whoever was watching it, they felt you were talking to them."

Characters including Humpty and Jemima featured on Play School

Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry paid tribute to "one of the best-loved presenters in children's television".

"Brian Cant's work has touched generations of young people, their parents and grandparents, and his influence on the producers and presenters of the 21st Century is arguably second to none," she said.

Cant, whose other children's TV credits include Play Away and Bric-a-Brac, appeared as an actor in shows including Z Cars and Dixon of Dock Green and, more recently, in BBC One daytime soap Doctors.

In 2007, readers of BBC magazine Underground Ernie voted his voice the best-loved in the history of UK children's television.