The veteran children’s television star Simon Townsend has died aged 79, shortly after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
The former newspaper and television journalist launched Simon Townsend’s Wonder World! on Channel Ten in 1979 with mascot Woodrow the bloodhound. The groundbreaking show made him a household name in the 1980s, delighting young audiences with magazine-style stories which covered a wide range of topics including mental health, bullying, grief, social justice and war.