Johnny Ball to publish memoir about comedy career
- Former stand-up comedian, kids' TV personality Johnny Ball has written his autobiography
- The first of two volumes will cover his comedy career and is published in March
- He says: "Seventeen wonderful years of stand-up comedy took me across the UK and abroad"
Children's television favourite Johnny Ball is to publish a memoir charting his life as a stand-up comedian.
Now better known for hosting Play School between 1967 and 1987, and humorous, accessible educational explanations of maths and science topics, Ball spent the first part of his showbusiness career in comedy.
The first of two volumes, My Previous Life In Comedy: Part One Of My Autobiography is to be published by The Book Guild on 28th March 2025.
He explains in the blurb: "From an idyllic childhood in Bristol, with my gag-a-minute dad inspiring me to become a comedian, to dreadful teenage years in Bolton where education overlooked me, and all I learnt was how to be funny.
"My first job gave me a taste of success and confidence, followed by my real education in the RAF. Butlins gifted me an enduring smile, and in Liverpool, I worked with the less fortunate while crossing paths with future stars.
"Then came seventeen wonderful years of stand-up comedy, which took me across the UK and abroad, entertaining the British Forces, before a TV career began in failure, only to rise from the ashes with Di, the love of my life, and a new career in Maths and Science."
Ball adds: "At 86, it's surely not too late to publish an autobiography? I have just been too busy working and laughing until now. But I have so many stories, like my Dad stealing a pipe by wearing it, or the lad who robbed a bank and caught a bus home, that it would be criminal not to tell them. This is also to say "Hello and thanks!" to the many thousands of young people I inspired through my Children's TV career. I hope you enjoy My Previous Life In Comedy!"
The 352-page paperback is now available to order.
Johnny Ball - My Previous Life In Comedy: Part One Of My Autobiography
From an idyllic childhood in Bristol, with my gag-a-minute dad inspiring me to become a comedian, to dreadful teenage years in Bolton where education overlooked me, and all I learnt was how to be funny.
My first job gave me a taste of success and confidence, followed by my real education in the RAF. Butlins gifted me an enduring smile, and in Liverpool, I worked with the less fortunate while crossing paths with future stars.
Then came seventeen wonderful years of stand-up comedy, which took me across the UK and abroad, entertaining the British Forces, before a TV career began in failure, only to rise from the ashes with Di, the love of my life, and a new career in Maths and Science.
Packed with wildly funny tales, this book isn't half a good story - or is it? Well, yes it is, as the sequel will follow shortly!
First published: Friday 28th March 2025
- Publisher: Book Guild Publishing
- Pages: 352
- Catalogue: 9781835741665
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