Australian television presenter and journalist Simon Townsend died has died aged 79, his family confirmed.

He had 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 to the ABC.

“The conversation to the last was loud, passionate and full of laughs.”

Townsend was widely known for creating and hosting the children’s show Wonder World! which aired on Network Ten from 1979 to 1987.

The show, which produced more than 2000 episodes and won five Logie Awards, was hugely popular and considered a staple in many households.

“Simon often found himself in a stoush with Australian children’s television regulators, fighting to maintain his show’s boundary-pushing ethos and preserve his children’s TV rating,” his family said.

“The edict to all involved in making the show was that they never talk down to children.”

Amanda Keller, whose first job was at Wonder World!, paid tribute to “the groundbreaking force that was Simon Townsend”.

“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,” she said.

“I’ll be forever grateful to the show, and to the groundbreaking force that was Simon Townsend. My condolences to all who loved him.”

Townsend was also known for his time on ABBA: Bang a Boomerang, Tvtv and At Last… Bullamakanka: The Motion Picture.