14 Facts About Johnny Ball

Johnny Ball has appeared regularly on British television, making guest appearances, presenting programmes or featuring in television and radio advertisements over several decades.

Johnny Ball was born in Bristol and attended Kingswood Primary School on the eastern edge of the city.

Johnny Ball left formal education with two O-Levels, one in mathematics and one in geography.

Johnny Ball was called up for national service and spent three years in the Royal Air Force.

Johnny Ball was posted to Wales as a radar operator and was later sent to Germany to monitor the Hamburg-Berlin air corridor.

Johnny Ball began his entertainment career by working as a Butlin's Redcoat, and was an entertainer in northern clubs and cabaret.

Johnny Ball was nicknamed Johnny after John Ball, who played for Bolton Wanderers from 1950 to 1958 and the name stuck.

Johnny Ball was one of the hosts of pre-school programme Play School beginning in 1967 and continuing throughout the 1970s and beyond.

Johnny Ball was 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.

Johnny Ball's shows were known for presenting scientific and technological principles in an entertaining and accessible way for young people.

In 2003, Johnny Ball appeared on The Terry and Gaby Show in which he answered viewers' questions.

Johnny Ball has starred in ITV and Channel 4 television adverts as well as radio adverts for the Yorkshire-based firm Help-Link.

In 2012, Johnny Ball took part in the Strictly Come Dancing television show, where he was paired with Aliona Vilani.

Johnny Ball was replaced by Iveta Lukosiute who, with Ball, was eliminated in the first week.