Johnny Ball

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Sunday 19 October

Comedy, Memoir

Johnny Ball

My Previous Life in Comedy

Johnny Ball smiling in a promotional portrait ahead of his appearance at Wimbledon BookFest.

Now aged 86, Johnny Ball is as energetic as ever and promises to regale the audience with tales that are often unbelievable, but all perfectly true moments from his life.

Best known for his twenty-year BBC TV career, Johnny made his name writing and presenting light and entertaining educational shows. Starting as a stand-up comedian, he joined the BBC in 1967. Johnny continues to captivate audiences with lectures and stage shows about mathematics and his life in comedy. 

From watching George Formby, his first comedy steps as a Butlin Redcoat; the wonderful Northern Club years; plus touring with Harry Secombe and Pan’s People.Johnny will reveal his crazy Liverpool experiences, his encounters with The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, Roy Orbison, The Bee Gee’s, Ken Dodd and helping start Freddie Starr’s career.

Johnny Ball has inspired thousands through his children’s TV career. He was one of the hosts of Play School from 1967 onwards and a regular fixture on kids TV from the mid 70s onwards with science and technology programmes including Think of a Number and Johnny Ball Reveals All.

‘It warms the cockles of my heart that my dad is still so admired with so many being fans of his work, his TV shows and of course his great humour and enthusiasm.’
Zoe Ball

Under-30s tickets : £10

Sunday 19 October 2025

2:00 pm

£ 12.50 - £ 15.00

Johnny Ball

Johnny Ball

My Previous Life in Comedy

Event Info