Johnny Ball


Johnny Ball is an English television personality, a populariser of mathematics and the father of BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball.

Early life

Ball was born in Bristol where he attended Kingswood Primary School on the eastern edge of the city. Later in his childhood the family moved to Bolton, Lancashire, where he attended Bolton County Grammar School. He left formal education with two "O" Levels, one in mathematics and one in geography. He then signed on for three years in the Royal Air Force, worked as a Butlin's Redcoat, and was an entertainer in northern clubs and cabaret. He was nicknamed Johnny after John Ball, who played for Bolton Wanderers from 1950 to 1958 and the name stuck for the rest of his life.

Television and radio career

Ball was a regular fixture on children's television from the mid 1970s and throughout the 1980s, presenting several series of popular science and technology programmes intended for children. He was also one of the hosts of infant education programme Play School beginning in 1967 and continuing throughout the 1970s and beyond. As well as appearing on screen Ball wrote jokes for some shows including Crackerjack. All of these shows appeared on the BBC. Ball's shows were renowned for presenting scientific and technological principles in an entertaining and accessible way for young people.
In 2003, he appeared on The Terry and Gaby Show in which he answered viewers' questions. In July 2004, he was named in the Radio Times list of the top 40 most eccentric TV presenters of all time. In July 2012, he presented a Horizon special on ageing on BBC Four. He has starred in ITV and Channel 4 television adverts as well as radio adverts for the Yorkshire-based firm Help-Link.
Ball's daughter Zoë presents for BBC TV and presents the breakfast show on BBC Radio 2. His son Nick is a film director.
Ball lives with his wife Di in Buckinghamshire.
In 2012, Ball took part in the Strictly Come Dancing TV show, where he was paired with Aliona Vilani. A training accident in the three-week interval resulted in torn ligaments for Vilani, causing her to retire temporarily from the show. She was replaced by Iveta Lukošiūtė who, with Ball, went on to be eliminated in the first week. Vilani returned in the final group dance alongside Ball. In a TV interview in October 2017, Ball claimed Vilani faked the injury, with Vilani denying the allegation and saying she would take legal advice over Ball's comments. He was 74 at the time, and he is the oldest contestant in the show's history.

Series guide

Think of a Number
  • Pilot: 2 April 1977
  • Series 1: 6 editions – 12 April 1978 – 17 May 1978
  • Series 2: 6 editions – 12 September 1979 – 17 October 1979
  • Series 3: 6 editions – 10 September 1980 – 15 October 1980
  • Series 4: 6 editions – 15 September 1982 – 20 October 1982
  • Series 5: 6 editions – 4 January 1984 – 8 February 1984
  • Series 6: 6 editions – 26 September 1984 – 31 October 1984
Think Again
Think!Backwards
  • Five editions shown over one week – 28 September 1981 – 2 October 1981
Think! This Way
Think It... Do It
  • Series 1: 6 editions – 11 March 1986 – 15 April 1986
  • Series 2: 6 editions – 27 February 1987 – 3 April 1987
Knowhow
  • Series 1: 6 editions – 8 March 1988 – 12 April 1988
  • Series 2: 6 editions – 25 October 1988 – 29 November 1988
  • Series 3: 6 editions – 2 January 1990 – 6 February 1990
Johnny Ball Reveals All