Thirty years ago, everyone knew that αβTCR+ T cells were either CD4+ MHC class II restricted (helper) cells or CD8+ MHC class I restricted (cytotoxic) T cells. Subsequently, many (but unfortunately not all) immunologists have come to realise that there are other types of αβTCR+ T cells, that in some cases are highly abundant and functionally unique components of the immune system. Early studies with αβTCR+ CD4-CD8- (αβDN) T cells and NK1.1+ T cells evolved into the extensive collection of CD1d restricted NKT cells (Types I and II), CD1a, CD1b, CD1c restricted T cells; and MR1 restricted MAIT cells that brings the delegates of this conference together every 2 years. I will present an overview of my early forays into this field (alongside many valued team members and collaborators) working with αβDN T cells, through to developmental and functional studies of NKT cells and subsets thereof. Our more recent studies have led to the identification of atypical populations of CD1d-restricted T cells and the molecular and structural basis of their antigen reactivity. We are also making great headway in the identification, functional and molecular analysis of human CD1a, CD1b and CD1c restricted T cells and their antigen reactivity. Most recently, our studies have encompassed MR1-restricted MAIT cells where we have mapped a developmental pathway and identified several key factors that regulate the development of these cells and lastly, I will discuss our recent studies of atypical MR1-restricted αβ and γδ T cells.