Johnny Ball is a sublime storyteller, happier than ever after beating prostate cancer. He talks to the Mirror about assisted dying, and why he’d urge caution on any potential bill
Children’s TV legend Johnny Ball has seldom felt more enthusiastic about life. Aged 87, he celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with his ‘soul mate’ Dianne last year and announced his prostate cancer all clear. Speaking at his south Buckinghamshire home, he says: “I’m laughing more now than at any other time in my life.”
With his trademark tongue-in-cheek humour, he adds: “I even bought my wife a bunch of flowers today – the first time I’ve done that in 20 years.” And it’s Johnny’s joie de vivre that’s cemented his opposition to assisted dying, through a genuine fear of people being coerced into suicide.
READ MORE: Rockstar legend realises she’s been driving illegally for YEARS after awkward error
His opposition is timely as, this week, Scotland’s assisted dying bill failed, following an emotional four-hour debate. Drawing on an ancient story, he says: “The man who discovered the size of the Earth was a Greek called Eratosthenes. You can look him up. When he was around 80, he locked himself in a room and refused food until he died. He actually switched off and said,’ I’ve done enough.’ That, if you like, was unassisted dying – except that everybody had to agree that they’d leave him. It’s one of the saddest things I know in history.”
Explaining the relevance of this story today, Johnny continues: “Fast forward to now, and I’m always worried that people will sway people. There are too many stories of people realising that money is going to move from one place to another when somebody dies for me to be wholly comfortable about assisted dying. It’s all about what’s in your heart. So, if somebody is saying ‘I’m ill, please let me go now.’ I don’t see a problem with that. But I would find a great problem with a relation who said, ‘oh, I think they’ve had it. There’s no quality of life. Let’s end it for them’.”
Johnny, himself, has successfully weathered some challenging storms and come out shining. He says:“I’ve been kicked in the teeth in every possible way by life and by situations and by people. But I still cannot help but smile. I have my wife, my dog, my life. I’m very happy with my life. I’m happy that I’m still fit at 87. “By rights, I don’t have long left, I want to spend it with a smile on my face.”
Shooting to fame in the 1960s, fronting the BBC children’s show Play School, Johnny’s career has spanned seven decades. And he’s not done yet. He’s written a second memoir, Stories That Must Be Told!, which is out on March 28. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022 and announcing his all clear last year, Johnny says: “When they told me I had prostate cancer, for about three days after I knew I had it but didn’t know the severity. Dianne and I rationalised about whether I was coming to the end.
“I was quite pleased in a way that I came to terms with it. I said ‘well that’s the way it is and I’d better cash in, I’d better finish some ideas I’ve had.’ But then they told me ‘no it’s quite safe, you’re going to have radiation treatment and you’re gonna be okay,’ and I was out the other end. When you come out the other end of cancer, good heavens, what a relief, and how wonderful. I’ve been blessed with some more years to come.”
BAFTA winner Johnny, whose prolific career in children’s TV included working on Think of a Number, Think Again, Play School, and Play Away, has huge admiration for King Charles, after he spoke publicly about having cancer. He says: “We all need to read about what other people do. I’m still here – so is he. So don’t tell me there’s less hope, there’s definitely more hope”
Johnny, whose hobbies include making gazebos for his garden, is also a fan of former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, after working with him in 2000 on a committee about the school curriculum. Horrified by the current school system, he says he’s ready to take a call from Sir Keir Starmer if the current Prime Minister needs any advice. He says: “I’m ready when he is.
“I don’t understand the curriculum at all. I’d rewrite the maths curriculum tomorrow if I could and make people better mathematicians. Every bit of our technology works because of on-off switches. That’s the binary system, where it’s either on or off. Binary numbers were cut out of the English curriculum in 2000. Why? It’s madness. I used to talk all the time to schools. I’m not invited anymore. And it’s not my age, it’s because of the finances. But I love children. They’re the future. In 2000, I worked with Blair’s government, and when Michael Gove was Minister, I worked on a committee with him to improve the curriculum.“
But Blair gets his vote. Johnny says: “He’s lovely. I got on very well with him. I thought he was a great Prime Minister in those days… except for the Iraq war.” A dad-of-three, Johnny has a daughter – Zoe Ball, by his first wife, Julia – and two sons, Dan and Nick, with Dianne.
But there is no teasing any family secrets from Johnny, who remains tight-lipped concerning rumours that Zoe is being lined up to present Strictly Come Dancing. Instead, he speaks of his pride in the way in which Zoe and her ex-husband Norman Cook, aka Fat Boy Slim, have come together after their split – especially when it comes to parenting their children, Woody, 25, and Nelly, 15. He says: “They wouldn’t be married again. They’ve had enough of that. They had nearly 20 years.
“The two of them are really good buddies. They live within a mile of each other. And they’re good mates for the sake of the two children. The children have rooms in both houses, and it all works very well, that’s the nice thing here.” Now, safe in the knowledge that those he loves are in a good place, Johnny feels positive that the future is bright. And he has plenty to live for, saying: “I’ve never been more content than in this decade.”
*Stories That Must Be Told! by Johnny Ball, £10.99, published by The Book Guild Ltd, is out on March 28th
READ MORE: 70s rock legend’s unexpected celebration after passing driving test at 75
