Legendary entertainer Johnny Ball has really done it all: broadcaster; comedian; author and national treasure.
He is performing My Previous Life in Comedy at Chiswick’s Theatre at the Tabard on 12 Jul at 2.30pm. He also has a poetry collection looking for a publisher.
I chatted to him over Zoom to find out more about his busy life, and what to expect when he performs this weekend.
To find out more about Johnny’s work and publications, go to: https://johnnyball.co.uk/.
To book for Johnny Ball: My Previous Life in Comedy go to: https://www.tabard.org.uk/production/johnny-ball-my-previous-life-in-comedy
Looking back, did you ever expect your career to take so many different turns?
Not at all! I started as a comedian and entertainer, doing the summer seasons at Butlin’s and learning the trade the hard way. You met everybody in those days. I remember people like magicians, comics, and all sorts of wonderful performers. Then television came along and, before I knew it, I was on Play School – I only did that for 17 years!
Did comedy always come first?
Oh yes. I was doing stand-up and radio in Manchester and loved making people laugh. But I realised you could entertain people and teach them something at the same time. That’s what really excited me.
Where did your love of maths come from?
My dad. He adored numbers, and he passed that excitement on to me. Maths was never just sums – it was patterns, puzzles and stories. Later, after I was ill and had to spend time recovering, I found myself going back to it. It reminded me just how beautiful mathematics really is, and I thought, “Why can’t this be entertaining?”
Was television keen on the idea?
When I suggested doing a maths series, they thought I was mad. They weren’t exactly encouraging. But I believed that if you presented maths with enthusiasm and a bit of humour, people would enjoy it.
Then you took the idea on the road?
Exactly. Think of a Number became a live show and I toured it for 13 years. Then came corporate work, science shows and musicals. I even wrote a show about Michael Faraday [The Michael Faraday All Electric Roadshow] – starring David Hull. We played theatres all over the country, often to packed audiences, and had enormous fun doing it.
At 88, you’re still performing. What’s the secret?
Curiosity! I still love getting in front of an audience. Whether it’s children or U3A groups, I want people to discover that maths isn’t something to fear. It’s full of wonder. If people leave smiling and thinking differently, then I’ve done my job.
Looking back, what gives you the greatest satisfaction?
If I’ve persuaded someone to stop saying, “I’m no good at maths,” then I’ve achieved something worthwhile. Education should be full of excitement. If people leave smiling, asking questions and wanting to know more, that’s the best result I could hope for.