Johnny Ball

{{for-multi|the electrical insulator, known as a Johnny ball|Guy-wire|other people with a similar name|John Ball (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Johnny Ball

| image = Johnny Ball for Eureka! museum.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ball for Eureka! museum in 2019

| birthname = Graham Thalben Ball

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|5|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bristol, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = {{hlist|Television presenter|writer}}

| years active = 1967–present

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Julia Anderson|1969|1972}}
{{marriage|Diane Hicks|1975}}

}}

| children = 4, including Zoe{{cite web |title=Zoe Ball on Radio 4 Desert Island Discs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f5rf |access-date=11 February 2020}}

}}

Graham Thalben Ball; professionally known as Johnny Ball (born 23 May 1938),{{Cite book|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-292278|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U292278|chapter=Ball, Graham Thalben, (Johnny), (Born 23 May 1938), writer, lecturer, comedian and television presenter; mathematical enthuser, since 1978|title=Who's Who|year=2019}} is an English television personality, children's television presenter, writer and a populariser of mathematics. Ball regularly appeared on British television, predominantly on the BBC from 1967, featuring in or presenting programmes such as Play School, Think of a Number, Think Again, Think It ... Do It, Think...This Way and Johnny Ball Reveals All. He continued to appear regularly on British television, making guest appearances, presenting programmes or featuring in television and radio advertisements over several decades. He has also published a number of non-fiction books.

Early life

Ball was born in Bristol and attended Kingswood Primary School on the eastern edge of the city.[http://www.sussexlife.co.uk/education/johnny_ball_on_why_the_right_teacher_really_does_make_all_the_difference_1_3780737 Johnny Ball "Why the Right teacher really does make a difference"] Retrieved 7 November 2015 Later in his childhood the family moved to Bolton, then part of Lancashire, where he attended Bolton County Grammar School. He left formal education with two O-Levels, one in mathematics{{YouTube|cq-fasUmOcw|Johnny Ball – "Past Imperfect, Future Fantastic" – Wrexham Science Festival 1 of 4}} and one in geography. He was called up for national service and spent three years in the Royal Air Force. He was posted to Wales as a radar operator and was later sent to Germany to monitor the Hamburg-Berlin air corridor.{{cite web | url= https://uk.style.yahoo.com/johnny-ball-wants-national-service-return-114326209.html? | title= TV presenter Johnny Ball wants return of National Service for 'floundering kids' | work=Yahoo! | first=Danny | last=Thompson | date=28 November 2020 | access-date=31 January 2022}}

Ball began his entertainment career by working 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.{{cite web |last1=Alex |first1=Michael |title=FEATURE: Why 1980s children's TV legend Johnny Ball is still 'thinking of numbers' ahead of Dundee University talk |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/980009/feature-why-1980s-childrens-tv-legend-johnny-ball-is-still-thinking-of-numbers-ahead-of-dundee-university-talk/ |website=The Courier |date=19 September 2019 |access-date=2 November 2019}}

Television and radio career

Ball was one of the hosts of pre-school programme Play School beginning in 1967 and continuing throughout the 1970s and beyond. He was also a regular fixture on children's television from the mid 1970s and throughout the 1980s, presenting several series of science and technology programmes intended for children, including Think of a Number; Think Again; Think Backwards; Think...This Way and Johnny Ball Reveals All. As well as appearing on screen Ball wrote jokes for some shows including Crackerjack.{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1092313/|title=BFI Screenonline: Ball, Johnny (1938–) Biography}} All of these shows (except the ITV programme ...Reveals All) appeared on the BBC. Ball's shows were known for presenting scientific and technological principles in an entertaining and accessible way for young people.{{cite news |last1=Bellos |first1=Alex |title=Can you solve it? Think of a number |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/08/can-you-solve-it-think-of-a-number |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=8 February 2021 |quote="...Think of a Number was hosted by Zoe Ball’s dad Johnny, and to many Britons, this one included, it was an indelible cultural highlight of growing up in the late 1970s/early 1980s."}}{{cite news |last1=Bond |first1=Chris |title=Johnny Ball - on maths, children's TV, being on the Cold War frontline and opening with the Bee Gees |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/johnny-ball-maths-childrens-tv-being-cold-war-frontline-and-opening-bee-gees-101005 |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=Yorkshire Post |date=25 February 2019 |quote="Johnny Ball was the bloke who inspired countless youngsters to become interested in maths and science through TV programmes like Think of a Number and Think Again."}}{{cite news |title=Johnny Ball - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? |work=The Express on Sunda |date=11 July 2020 |pages=68–69 |quote="Millions of us grew up watching Johnny 'Think of a Number' Ball, on children's TV from the mid 70s."}}{{cite news |last1=Hillery |first1=Megan |title=Fun by numbers! TV legend heading to Deco for an entertaining evening of maths and more |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/fun-numbers-tv-legend-heading-deco-entertaining-evening-maths-and-more-3002130 |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=Northampton Chronicle and Echo |date=13 October 2020 |quote="...his sheer love for numbers has inspired passion and enthusiasm for the subject in millions of viewers over the decades."}}

In 2003, Ball 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/3927343.stm|title=BBC NEWS - In Pictures - In pictures: TV's greatest eccentrics|date=27 July 2004}} 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.[http://www.johnnyball.co.uk/html/newsappear.htm Johnny Ball Productions: News & Appearances] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717000601/http://www.johnnyball.co.uk/html/newsappear.htm |date=17 July 2012 }}

In 2012, Ball took part in the Strictly Come Dancing television 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, was eliminated in the first week.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogstrictlycomedancing/posts/Johnny-Ball-leaves-Strictly |publisher=BBC|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Johnny Ball leaves Strictly}} Vilani returned in the final group dance alongside Ball. In an interview in October 2017, Ball said that Vilani faked the injury, with Vilani denying the allegation and saying she would take legal advice over Ball's comments.[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/strictly-come-dancing-aliona-vilani_uk_59e5ce4be4b02a215b32b379 'Strictly Come Dancing': Aliona Vilani 'Taking Legal Advice' As She Denies Johnny Ball's Claims] The Huffington Post, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2018. There are no reports that she subsequently took any form of legal action.{{cite news |title=Johnny Ball tipped to join Strictly Come Dancing as oldest ever celeb |url=https://metro.co.uk/2012/08/31/johnny-ball-tipped-to-join-strictly-come-dancing-as-oldest-ever-celeb-559584/ |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=Metro |publisher=Associated Newspapers Limited |date=31 August 2012 |quote="Johnny Ball has reportedly signed up for Strictly Come Dancing – and at 74 will be the show’s oldest ever celebrity participant."}}

Personal life

Ball married Julia (née Anderson) in 1969. The marriage produced one child, television and radio presenter Zoe Ball. The couple divorced in 1972.{{cite news |last=Fatima |first=Zahra |title=Zoe Ball announces mum's death after cancer diagnosis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68887559 |website=BBC News |access-date=24 April 2024 |date=24 April 2024}}

Ball married Diane (née Hicks) in 1975. The couple live in Buckinghamshire.{{cite news |last1=Wintle |first1=Angela |title=Johnny Ball: 'I'm a better investor than most advisers' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/johnny-ballim-better-investor-advisers/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=2 November 2019 |date=23 June 2019}}

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

Series 1: 5 editions – 9 January 1981 – 6 February 1981
Series 2: 6 editions – 8 January 1982 – 12 February 1982
Series 3: 6 editions – 7 January 1983 – 11 February 1983
Series 4: 6 editions – 13 September 1983 – 18 October 1983
Series 5: 6 editions – 10 September 1985 – 15 October 1985

Think!Backwards

Five editions shown over one week – 28 September 1981 – 2 October 1981

Think! This Way

Five editions shown over one week – 28 March 1983 – 1 April 1983

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 (does not feature in series 3)

Johnny Ball Reveals All

Series 1: 7 editions – 14 June 1989 – 26 July 1989
Series 2: 6 editions – 3 August 1990 – 7 September 1990
Series 3: 7 editions – 18 March 1992 – 29 April 1992
Series 4: 7 editions – 5 July 1993 – 16 August 1993
Series 5: 5 editions – 8 August 1994 – 1 September 1994

(source: BBC)

Other activities

Ball was the Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1993 to 1996.{{cite web |title=University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Johnny Ball |url=https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH1068&type=P |website=www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk |access-date=2 November 2019}}
In November 2006, Ball voiced his opposition to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, which would require any adult working with children to be vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau. In an interview with The Sunday Times, he said: "It is like George Orwell's 1984... a quarter of adults will have to be checked... The fear we are instilling in [children] is abhorrent."[https://archive.today/20110604102734/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2437547.html "The 'toxic wall' around children"] – The Sunday Times interview, November 2006
In 2007 it was reported that Ball rejected the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, stating that "carbon dioxide has been unfairly victimised in the debate." He supports the expansion of nuclear power and has given speeches arguing for its development.{{cite news|title=A climate of fear|work=Science & Technology|publisher=BBC Manchester|date=24 October 2007|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2007/10/24/241007_johnny_ball_feature.shtml|access-date=27 December 2007}}{{cite web|title=Johnny Ball Potted Biography|work=iTeach|date=November 2006|url=http://www.iteach.ac.uk/About/News/JohnnyBallBio/tabid/67/Default.aspx|access-date=27 December 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823115410/http://www.iteach.ac.uk/About/News/JohnnyBallBio/tabid/67/Default.aspx|archive-date=23 August 2007}} On 15 December 2009, he was booed off stage at a London show for his climate change denial.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/climatechange/6825502/Johnny-Ball-booed-by-atheists-over-climate-change-denial.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London, UK|title=Johnny Ball booed by atheists over climate change denial|first=Billy|last=Kenber|date=16 December 2009|access-date=7 May 2010}}
From 2020 to 2021 Ball appeared five times as a speaker on Numberphile, a YouTube channel hosted by Brady Haran. In his episodes he spoke about "Russian multiplication",{{Cite web|title=Russian Multiplication – Numberphile|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ_PP5rqLg0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/HJ_PP5rqLg0 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=30 November 2020|website=YouTube| date=4 February 2020 }}{{cbignore}} "The Mesolabe Compass and Square Roots",{{Cite web|title=Mesolabe Compass and Square Roots|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VVPBS_flOI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9VVPBS_flOI |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=30 November 2020|website=YouTube| date=15 March 2020 }}{{cbignore}} "Parabolas and Archimedes",{{cite web|title=Parabolas and Archimedes - Numberphile|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAcUZ3my6E0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GAcUZ3my6E0 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|website=YouTube| date=23 May 2021 }}{{cbignore}} "The Volume of a Sphere",{{cite web|title=The Volume of a Sphere - Numberphile|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IZh-KIAQLE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2IZh-KIAQLE |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=20 June 2021|website=YouTube| date=20 June 2021 }}{{cbignore}} and "Area of the Q".{{Cite web |date=9 September 2021 |title=Area of the Q |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO2yMdU0Rq4 |access-date=17 April 2022 |website=YouTube}}

Bibliography

{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=My Previous Life in Comedy | publisher=The Book Guild Ltd | year=2025| isbn=978-1835741665}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Think of a number | publisher=Dorling Kindersley | year=2005 | isbn=1-4053-1031-6}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Go Figure! | publisher=Dorling Kindersley | year=2005 | isbn=0-7566-1374-4 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/gofigure0000ball }} (American edition of "Think of a Number")
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Johnny Ball's Think Box | publisher=Puffin | year=1982 | isbn=0-14-031545-4}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Johnny Ball's Second Thinks | publisher=Puffin | year=1987 | isbn=0-14-031819-4}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Plays for Laughs | publisher=Puffin | year=1983 | isbn=0-14-031548-9}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Think of a number | publisher=BBC | year=1979| isbn=0-563-17755-1}} (different from the 2005 book of the same name)
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Mathmagicians | publisher=Dorling Kindersley | year=2009 | isbn=978-1-4053-3727-4}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Ball of Confusion | publisher=Faber and Faber | year=2011| isbn=978-1-84831-348-4}}
{{cite book | author=Ball, Johnny | title=Wonders Beyond Numbers | publisher=Bloomsbury Sigma | year=2017| isbn=978-1-47293-998-2}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|id=0050400|name=Johnny Ball}}
[http://www.johnnyball.co.uk/ Johnny Ball Productions] — Official website
[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1092313/index.html Johnny Ball biography and credits at BFI Screenonline]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4657113.stm Think of a number... think Johnny Ball]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2946452.stm Johnny Ball "slates" children's TV]
[http://www.tvcream.co.uk/?p=3490 Think of a Number] – TV Cream entry
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dq/profiles/johnny-ball BBC] – Strictly Come Dancing
[http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/ FatallyFlawed] – Johnny Ball supports campaign

{{succession box|title=Rector of the University of Glasgow|years=1993–1996|before=Pat Kane|after=Richard Wilson}}

Category:1938 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel

Category:BBC television presenters

Category:British science communicators

Category:Butlins Redcoats

Category:English children's television presenters

Category:Military personnel from Bristol

Category:Mass media people from Bolton

Category:Rectors of the University of Glasgow

Category:Television personalities from Bristol

Category:Television personalities from Greater Manchester