Johnny Ball says he didn't teach maths on TV - “I taught enthusiasm”
The presenter on inspiring the next generation and how daughter Zoe is bouncing back after leaving Radio 2.
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The presenter on inspiring the next generation and how daughter Zoe is bouncing back after leaving Radio 2.
Johnny Ball was the most recognised face on children's television for more than 20 years, first presenting Playschool and then with his award-winning TV series Think of a Number and Think Again, which made maths and science popular again.
The 86-year-old is a father of three, including presenter Zoe Ball, and he is as busy as ever, presenting his two-hour theatre shows and with his new book out, My Previous Life in Comedy.
Speaking to Saga Magazine he remembered how he had been working as a stand-up comedian when he got the audition for Playschool.
"I thought the interview was for Crackerjack, which would have been ideal for me as a comedian. When I realised it was for a show for under-fives I didn’t want the job.
"My producer said: ‘Commit to this and you’ll be brilliant.’ So I thought: ‘Yeah. Why be bad at this?’ I only stayed for 17 years!"
But it was Johnny's maths and science programmes that made the most difference to children at the time.
Johnny says: "I told my TV producers I had an idea for a show about maths. I used all my comedy skills to make it fun and even I was amazed at how popular the shows became.
"I love people and I’m glad to say it seems to be reciprocated. They say things like: ‘You changed my life.’
"People say I taught maths on TV, but I never did: I taught enthusiasm."
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"Aim high, irrespective of what’s gone before. As my life shows, anything you get wrong in education is repairable.
"I had an accident then an illness which meant I never caught up with my O-levels, so I only got two first time in geography and maths.
"Zoe’s form mistress made her life a misery – she almost had a nervous breakdown – but she came through it."
"Zoe's taken to broadcasting as well as I did - in fact, she's done better than me. She's earned considerably more money from it.
"Her mum died last year and she's had various other problems, but she's chuffed to have packed in the Radio 2 breakfast show, as she's realised every day has 24 hours now.
"Her days used to start at 4am and by the time it got to midday she was knackered. She visited me recently and said: ‘I’m in such a good place’."
My Previous Life in Comedy by Johnny Ball (The Book Guild, £10.99) is out on 28 March.
Johnny supports the NSPCC’s Number Day, a maths-inspired fundraiser.
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