
Vale: Simon Townsend
Pioneering Children's TV presenter Simon Townsend best known for Simon Townsend's Wonder World has died.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News, Top Stories, Video
Pioneering Children’s TV presenter Simon Townsend best known for Simon Townsend’s Wonder World has died, aged 79.
ABC reports his family confirmed he passed away on Tuesday having recently been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
“In his final days, Simon was surrounded by his family and a mix of journalists, writers, actors, political activists and Italians,” his family said in a statement.
“The conversation to the last was loud, passionate and full of laughs.”
Prior to his Children’s TV career, Townsend had worked as a newspaper reporter, and had been conscientious objector against the Vietnam War, before he met A Current Affair host and producer Mike Willesee at a dinner party.
“I liked him a lot. He invited me in for a talk and on the basis of one interview he said, ‘When do you want to start?’ I said, ‘Right now!’” he once told TV Tonight.
He also had shares in Zoot, a Children’s newspaper which, together with his ACA experience, led to the idea of a magazine-style TV show for Children.
“Nine paid for a pilot, Seven paid for a pilot but no-one took it up. Then the law changed and the channels had to have a half hour of Australian quality television. So I was given a C rating and I had something to sell,” he explained.
“The rest is history.”
Wonder World ran on 10 from 1979 until 1987. Screening 5 afternoons a week, it employed 17 reporters over its life span, producing some 8000 stories and nearly 2000 episodes.
Amongst its reporting team were Angela Catterns, Jonathan Coleman, Edith Bliss, Hugh Piper, Sheridan Jobbins, Maurice Parker and Alita Fahey and one young researcher named Amanda Keller.
The first theme song for the show was ‘Afternoon Delight‘ by the Starland Vocal band until he realised the suggestive nature of the lyrics.
He then commissioned ‘Welcome to my Wonder World’ originally recorded by John St. Peeters, released as a Top 40 single and even performed on Countdown.
Wonder World covered eclectic and educational magazine stories for its young audience, under the premise that “the world really is wonderful.”
But it also tackled difficult topics such as terminal illness, animal cruelty and homelessness. In 1983 Prime Minister Bob Hawke presented the often-giggling Townsend with a special award for his 1000th episode, congratulating him on his contribution to the youth of Australia.
Audiences also loved his permanent sidekick, a large, droopy bloodhound named Woodrow.
“Angela Catterns did a story on bloodhounds and the final shot was one little puppy. I said, ‘Can you find out if that puppy has been sold?’
“He dripped a lot of saliva and I always had to have a towel. But he was a darling dog, both my family pet and programme mascot,” he said.
Following Wonder World (which had a separate run on Nine with reporters Catriona Rowntree & Sonia Kruger) he then sold review show TVTV to the ABC’s David Hill.
TVTV ran for 3 years reviewing television shows and presenting TV news & interviews, including shows from other networks.
In later years he faced ongoing health battles, suffering 5 strokes but remained connected to storytelling, News and Current Affairs still a regular viewing habit.
“I watch a fair bit of Foxtel and still, 5 nights a week I watch A Current Affair. Sometimes I think, ‘We did that story years ago!’”
Arguably, no other children’s magazine show has matched the success of Wonder World in Australia.
“We travelled a lot, across the whole of Australia and internationally. We went to Hawaii, India, Bali, Hong Kong and other countries,” he said.
“I suppose the hallmark of the shows was that they always involved humour and popular music. That was how they came together.”
……and remember, the world really is wonderful!
“I was a researcher there, and was lucky enough to work alongside some of the most talented people of my generation. Many of my closest friends today are from those days. I’ll be forever grateful to the show, and to the groundbreaking force that was Simon Townsend.” – Amanda Keller
“I am so sad to hear of the passing of this beautiful man, Simon Townsend, who brought so much joy and yes WONDER into this world. I grew up watching WonderWorld! And was first in line when years later they had the ‘second coming’ of the show, I auditioned with around 12,000 hopefuls, truly one of the hardest auditions of my life, but I felt I was in the zone. Sadly, I was pipped at the post, I got down to the final 5 girls, they wanted 3 and didn’t choose me. But I begged them to take me on behind the scenes and I began my career in TV as the Wonder World ! researcher (so hard, I had no desk just a phone and the Yellow ‘not happy Jan’ Pages, tasked to find two stories each day, lock them in, research the hell out of them, write up the brief for the crew and send them out 5 days a week. It was tough, but when things didn’t work out for the Host, Phil Tanner gave me one shot as a Reporter and here I am all these years later…in my zimmerframe, still Hosting. I owe so much to this show, this man…if you believe that anything can happen, if you believe that anything is possible…#vale #simontownsend #wonderworld” – Catriona Rowntree
“Very sad news about Simon. He took a gamble on a 19 year old with no television experience. For that I’m forever grateful. Simon Townsend’s Wonder World changed the way we viewed children’s television. There’s no doubt in my mind that Simon was at the forefront of infotainment Simon was my mentor, friend , and inspiration.” -Maurice Parker, producer.
Simon Townsend was a children’s TV visionary. His “Wonder World” was revolutionary.He never talked down to kids..ending every show with an important reminder “And remember the world really is wonderful.”His earlier stand against the Vietnam War took real guts..a man of principle.
— NickMcCallum7 (@NickMcCallum7) January 15, 2025
“Vale Simon Townsend & his groundbreaking TV show was essential viewing in my childhood.
Funny, formative, full of great music and facts you never knew you needed. Lucky me, I met my darling hubby at the Wonderworld 2nd birthday party, and the rest is history. Jono will be enjoying a drink with Simon on the other side today – along with other greats – Adam Bowan and Andrew Lesnie who were also part of the original crew” – Margot Fitzpatrick.
This post updates.
- Tagged with Simon Townsend's Wonder World
14 Responses
Thanks for the nice write-up and video David, it brings back a lot of great memories. Like so many others it was must see TV growing up.
So sad to hear, and such a wonderful thing to have provided kids of the late 70s and 80s, nothing really like these shows these days, we didn’t know how lucky we were, RIP.
Any child growing up in the 80’s, Simon Townsend was a legend of Australian TV. Thanks to him and Network 10, the cartoons and American repeats (the Brady’s and Gilligan) stopped and kids started getting educated in a entertaining way via TV. Simon took children seriously, even with that crazy giggle. Thanks Simon for giving us Wonderworld every afternoon. So sad to hearing of your passing. RIP! youtube.com/watch?v=x2MRkVQAwdU
What a Wonderful show and Wonderful host – how lucky I was to be the audience for shows of this caliber.
Vale, sir.
Very sad news.
Simon seemed like a lovely man.
As a teenager, I used to watch Wonder World every afternoon after school. My favourite show back in the day – loved all the interesting stories and such a fantastic bunch of reporters, especially Johnno, Edith and Angela.
Beautiful, slobbery old Woodrow was the real star of the show, though.
So very sad …my daughter never missed it, she loved it so much she still has a stuffed Woodrow with a dog collar and tag with his name. Another loss for “Memory Lane”…RIP Mr Townsend and thanks for the joy you brought. 🕊️
Very sad news. Simon was such an important and inventive industry player and on screen talent. He will be missed.
I was thinking about him yesterday (and Wonder World), I was born after the original Wonder World aired but I did watch TVTV (because I thought it was going to be like Th Afternoon Show as James Valentine was part of the reporters)
Respect….I loved this show….and I was not a child.
Very sad and shocked to hear of the death of Simon Townsend. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. RIP Simon.
Wonder World Waa a favourite of mine as a teen.
Thanks for the memories Simon.
Vale Simon. A seminal show in a more innocent time when kids could be kids.
R.I.P Simon very sad news
RIP Simon. I grew up watching this show. Great memories.