Johnny Ball, a childs’ telly legend, tells The Mirror that he is “lucky” to have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Children’s TV legend Johnny Ball has revealed that he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer.
The 87-year-old, who burst on to TV screens presenting Play School in 1967, tells The Mirror: “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2022 and, thankfully, after three months of daily radiation treatment, starting in the September, I’m through it, I’m fine.”
Johnny, who has annual checks, does not take surviving prostate cancer for granted. He says: “My friend Harry Secombe didn’t survive it, Bob Monkhouse didn’t survive it. I’m 20 years younger than them and I am lucky, because now we can cure it. “
READ MORE: Zoe Ball makes ‘sad’ revelation after brutal response from daughter NellyREAD MORE: Zoe Ball’s famous dad Johnny gives major update on her next career step
Reflecting on the loss of Goon Show great Secombe in 2001, aged 79, and Opportunity Knocks host Monkhouse in 2003, aged 75, he continues: “You’ve got to cash in on what’s wonderful about life today and stop dwelling on what’s dreary and depressing.”
Johnny also practices a strict daily diet and exercise regimen in an effort to stay healthy.
He states, “First, I perform a straightforward bending and stretching routine that lasts about two and a half minutes. Then, for two and a half minutes, I lift my two 2 kg dumbbells.
I get up to six to seven minutes a day, but it keeps me incredibly fit.
I also have cereal with prunes for breakfast, which keeps me going! He makes jokes. And he drinks beer every night.
He states, “I never have more than two pints,” but always have two. I start arguing with the TV when Dianne (his wife) knows if I’ve had even a half pint more.
Johnny, the father-of-three, is still active, giving mostly educational talks in classrooms and on stage, whose other TV credits include hosting the award-winning kids’ math and science series Think Of A Number.
He asserts, “I would never retire. It’s wonderful to be still employed.
Johnny and his second wife Dianne, a former dance instructor, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
He says of Dianne from their Buckinghamshire home, saying, “We have the same mindset and attitude, we’re both Geminis and we’re very energetic.
“We walk a lot. Yesterday we walked our dog four miles; today, we walked about two and a half miles. We’re in good health, and we make the most of it. You’ve got to focus on all the positives.”
But, an ambassador for the Remember A Charity organisation, encouraging people to leave a gift to charity in their wills, despite relishing his good health – especially as a cancer survivor – Johnny stresses the need to organise your affairs and leave something to a good cause.
We are all a part of a fantastic human relay race, he claims. You receive your own lap, and others follow you in the lap. It’s equivalent to passing the baton to the next generation by leaving something in your will. After you leave, supporting a charity helps you do that.
Johnny, who is renownedly the father of Zoe Ball, also has two sons with 46-year-old civil engineer Dianne, who owns a swimming pool and designs buildings. He has worked with Ringo Starr, Craig Revel Horwood, and Idris Elba, Johnny says.
Nick, 48, writes films – most recently working on the horror film, The Trip, which reached number one on Netflix.
Meanwhile, Zoe, 54, from his first wife Julia, who died in April 2024 from pancreatic cancer, is “in a good place,” according to Johnny, since leaving her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show to host a Saturday afternoon show on the channel.
He continues, “I believe she’s in a good place right now.” Because people are realizing she has other options, her new career is expanding from strength to strength.
Additionally, Johnny is creative all at once. He states, “I have a lovely idea for a multigenerational series on the history of maths, but it would be entertaining and not mathematical. With my grandson Woody and Zoe, I would do it.
One of Johnny’s six grandchildren is Zoe, her son, DJ Norman Cook, and they also have a daughter named Nelly, 15.
He appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with Zoe and Woody back in 2023 and had viewers in stitches when, asked if he would ever go on Love Island, he replied: “Erm, I might find it exhausting at my age, to be honest.” Then, he added: “Because I wouldn’t like to leave anybody out.”
Johnny, who split up with Zoe’s mother when she was two and a half, would love another opportunity to do Strictly.
Back in 2012, then 74, he was the show’s oldest contestant, but he lost that title to Angela Rippon, who was a star turn in 2023 at the age of 78.
He has declared, “I could do Strictly now at 87,” and now wants to reclaim his crown.
He is a skilled skier, and he has undoubtedly maintained his agility, saying, “It’s great when you’re going skiing at my age; my lift pass costs two euros per week.”
He even teaches the young skiers a few tricks while they are on the slopes, saying, “I’ve seen young lads in their 20s ski a lot. And I’ve put a stop to them by saying, “You’re going to hurt yourself.” I teach them a lesson, and I teach them a lesson. They say, “Thank you very much,” the following day. I’m now able to ski.
Johnny continues to travel extensively with Dianne, who he met while performing a show on Blackpool Pier 20 minutes after a gypsy predicted that he would have a “glorious future” if he made the right choice about a woman in his life.
He had already split with his first wife, and he claimed: “The gypsy said, You’ve got two women in your life, and if you make the right choice right away, it’s going to be a glorious future.
I replied, “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” I left, and about 20 minutes later, I saw Diane working on “Johnny Bates,” a pier show, and her personality struck me right in the face.
The couple have recently returned from a trip to India, and Johnny says: “We’ve been everywhere, although we’ve yet to visit Japan and New Zealand.”
He sees plenty of room for adventure together as he nears the end of his autobiography, which is a follow-up to Johnny Ball’s My Previous Life in Comedy, due out in March.
He claims, “I played two shows last week. It’s wonderful to be still employed. When I travel, they will need to pin the lid down.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply