All About Johnny Ball

Biography – Johnny’s tragic schooling realised just 2 O-levels, but he scored 100% in Maths? He joined the Aircraft Industry in 1954, and gained 3 more O-levels on his own. He forsook Industrial Accountancy for three years in the RAF from 1957 to 1959 – his University, which qualified him to enter Air Traffic Control – however, he had clear and definite goals. From 1960 to 1962 he was a Butlin Redcoat at Pwllheli, North Wales and The Metropole Hotel, Blackpool and performed as a drummer in Liverpool in 60/61. In 62/3 he worked for Social Security in Liverpool – and education in itself. Johnny was a successful stand-up comedian from 1964 – 1976, mostly in Northern Clubs, appearing often on Radio, in the Val Doonican and Harry Secombe TV shows and compering the 90 minute 1967 ITV Christmas Night Spectacular.
Also in 1967 he joined BBC’s Playschool, where he learnt Television. He wrote a comedy sketch show, Cabbages and Kings, (3 series) most of the comedy for Playaway and Star Turn as well as for BBC Adult TV shows. In 1978 Johnny wrote and presented Think of a Number for the BBC, winning a BAFTA. Think Again followed and won two World TV Awards and an International Emmy Nomination and Johnny’s shows over the next 10 years, including Think It, Do It for the BBC  and Johnny Ball Reveals All for ITV, 1989-94, (20 series in all) inspired a whole generation of children towards careers in mathematics, science, engineering and teaching. In 1986 he wrote/presented the BISFA “Sales Video of the Year” for a Tractor and received the “ITVA Craft Award” as Presenter of the Year, for a video on the Water Industry. From 1993 to 2003 he forsook Television, as the Corporate World beat a path to his door. He worked for National Grid for 6 years, writing their brochures and presenting 3 videos. He delivered the British Gas Lectures for 3 years, a Engineering Council National Lecture Tour, 4 years of BAE Systems tours, and wrote and produced many Technology Based Videos including 8 – 30 minute shows on Cutting Edge Materials for the DTI and How Is It Made? – a UK-wide schools package for Rover. He wrote and presented the Launch Video for Torness Nuclear Power Station and became very knowledgeable regarding the energy industry and the science involved. He promoted Energy from Waste Plants, whose stringent controls make them safe and highly beneficial, saving huge swathes of land fill. He was asked to speak on Carbon by both Toyota Lexus and Volvo Motors, putting the technology and environmental dangers into true perspective, and predicting electric cars. He assisted the Outer Hebrides in fighting a wind farm, which other energy firms had rejected as not viable – in terms of the costs in getting the power to the mainland. But Johnny also maintained his lighter, educational activities. He set up The Living History of Science, a historic character agency and between 1993 and 2003 wrote, produced and starred in 5 Educational Stage Musicals, selling some 160,000 tickets per year in the UK’s major provincial theatres. The Michael Faraday ALL ELECTRIC Roadshow and Let the Force be with You, both ran for three years. Energy Champions, for Norweb toured the North West. Then for HM Dept Of Educ from 2000/03, he toured Tales of Maths and Legends and Tales of Blooming Science. His Mind Zone Live Show for BAE Systems, “With Your Mind and Tomorrow’s Technology, Anything is Possible,” was a Total Sell Out in the Millennium Dome for the entire Year of 2000. He has been an Ambassador for British Engineering since 1995. He staged DofEduc Exhibition Maths Stands, National STEM Projects and still gives Keynote speeches at many educational and public awareness projects. He received the RAE Medal for the Promotion of Engineering to the General Public in 2007. Johnny was Lord Rector of Glasgow University 1993/6 and has Seven Honourary Degrees or Fellowships from Glasgow, Salford, Sheffield Hallam, Liverpool John Moores, Bishop Grossteste Lincoln/Leicester, Brighton and The Institute of Teaching. In 2012, at 74, he became the oldest ever contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. Today at 84, Johnny is fit and still working. His One Man Family Maths Show, “Wonders Beyond Numbers”, is still touring. Johnny presented “A History of Blackpool Comedy” at Blackpool Tower June 2022. In Feb 2023 with daughter Zoe, they presented, “Johnny Ball – My previous life in Comedy,” to great acclaim and another version will follow soon. Johnny also contributes to Numberphile on You Tube, where many of his old shows can still be found. He lives in South Bucks with wife Di and dog Holly. Daughter Zoe presents BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show and BBC2’s It Takes Two. Son Nick’s film, The Trip was 2nd on Netflix. He has a new project with Universal. Son Dan runs Centre Space Design (Structural Engineers) in Henley. Johnny’s book, Wonders Beyond Numbers – A History of all things Mathematical, sells well worldwide, and All About Numbers and All About Maths, were both be released by DK in 2019.