{"id":153911,"date":"2025-09-22T21:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T21:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/153911\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T21:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T21:48:09","slug":"zoe-balls-tv-legend-dad-johnny-reveals-hes-been-secretly-battling-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/153911\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoe Ball’s TV legend dad Johnny reveals he’s been secretly battling cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kids telly legend Johnny Ball tells The Mirror he is ‘lucky’ after overcoming a shock prostate cancer diagnosis<\/p>\n

20:15, 22 Sep 2025Updated 21:09, 22 Sep 2025<\/p>\n

\"JohnnyJohnny Ball with daughter Zoe (Image: Instagram)<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s TV legend Johnny Ball<\/a> has revealed that he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

The 87-year-old, who burst on to TV screens presenting Play School in 1967, tells The Mirror<\/a>: \u201cI was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2022 and, thankfully, after three months of daily radiation treatment, starting in the September, I\u2019m through it, I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnny, who has annual checks, does not take surviving prostate cancer<\/a> for granted. He says: \u201cMy friend Harry Secombe<\/a> didn’t survive it, Bob Monkhouse<\/a> didn’t survive it. I’m 20 years younger than them and I am lucky, because now we can cure it. \u201c<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Zoe Ball makes ‘sad’ revelation after brutal response from daughter Nelly<\/a>READ MORE: Zoe Ball’s famous dad Johnny gives major update on her next career step<\/a>\"JohnnyJohnny on his 84th birthday with daughter Zoe Ball (left) and grandson Woody Cook at RHS Chelsea Flower Show – a few months before his cancer diagnosis (Image: PA)<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the loss of Goon Show great Secombe in 2001, aged 79, and Opportunity Knocks<\/a> host Monkhouse in 2003, aged 75, he continues: \u201cYou\u2019ve got to cash in on what’s wonderful about life today and stop dwelling on what’s dreary and depressing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnny also works hard on staying healthy and follows a strict daily diet and exercise routine.<\/p>\n

He says: \u201dFirst I do a simple bending and stretching routine that lasts about two and a half minutes, the speed I do it at. And then, I lift my two 2kg dumbbells for two and a half minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy daily routine is six to seven minutes at the most, but it keeps me incredibly fit.\u201c<\/p>\n

Diet plays a part too: \u201cFor breakfast (I have) cereal with prunes in the morning – it keeps me going!\u201d he jokes. And every night he drinks beer.<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cI always have two pints – never any more than that. Dianne (his wife) can always tell if I have had even half a pint more – I start arguing with the TV.”<\/p>\n

Father-of-three Johnny, whose other TV credits include presenting the award winning kids\u2019 maths and science series Think Of A Number, is still working – mainly giving educational talks in schools and on stage.<\/p>\n

\"JohnnyJohnny is an ambassador for Remember A Charity campaign encouraging people to get their affairs in order and gift a charity in their will (Image: Collect)<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cI would never retire. It’s a joy to still be working.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnny recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with second wife Dianne, a former dance teacher, who he calls his \u201csoul mate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking from the home in Buckinghamshire which they share with their cocker spaniel, Holly, he says of Dianne: \u201cWe have the same mindset and attitude; we\u2019re both Geminis and have a lot of energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe walk a lot. Yesterday we walked our dog four miles; today, we walked about two and a half miles. We\u2019re in good health,<\/a> and we make the most of it. You\u2019ve got to focus on all the positives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JohnnyJohnny Ball with wife Dianne in India (Image: Collect)<\/p>\n

But, an ambassador for the Remember A Charity <\/a>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.<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cWe\u2019re all part of a great human relay race. You get your own lap, and then others get one after you. Leaving something in your will is like passing the baton to the next generation. Supporting a charity after you\u2019ve gone helps you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Famously the dad of Zoe Ball, Johnny also has two sons with Dianne – Dan, 46, a civil engineer, who runs a business designing buildings and swimming pools.” He has done pools for Idris Elba, Craig Revel Horwood and Ringo Starr,” says Johnny.<\/p>\n

\"JohnnyJohnny Ball with kids Zoe,Dan and Nick on holiday<\/p>\n

Nick, 48, writes films – most recently working on the horror film, The Trip, which reached number one on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Zoe, 54, from his first wife Julia, who died in April 2024 from pancreatic cancer, is \u201cin a good place,\u201d according to Johnny, since leaving her BBC<\/a> Radio 2 breakfast show to host a Saturday afternoon show on the channel.<\/p>\n

He continues: \u201cI think she’s in a good place now. Her new career is going from strength to strength, because people are realising now that she\u2019s available for other ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Johnny is also full of ideas. He says:\u201cI have a lovely idea for a multigenerational series on the history of maths, but it would be entertaining and not mathematical. I\u2019d do it with Zoe and my grandson Woody.”<\/p>\n

\"ZoeZoe Ball with brother Nick and Dan and step mum Diane (Image: Collect)<\/p>\n

Woody, 24, Zoe\u2019s son by DJ Norman Cook – they also have a daughter, Nelly, 15 – is one of Johnny\u2019s six grandchildren.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, 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.”<\/p>\n

Now Johnny, who split up with Zoe\u2019s mum when she was two-and-a-half, would love another chance to do Strictly.<\/p>\n

Back in 2012, then 74, he was the show\u2019s oldest contestant, but he lost that title to Angela Rippon<\/a>, who was a star turn in 2023 at the age of 78.<\/p>\n

\"JohnnyJohnny Ball on set of ‘Johnny Ball Reveals All’ – 1990(Image: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Now he wants to reclaim his crown, saying: \u201cI could do Strictly now at 87.\u201d<\/p>\n

A keen skier, he has certainly maintained his agility, adding: \u201cIt\u2019s great when you\u2019re my age going skiing – my lift pass is two euros for the week.\u201d<\/p>\n

He even teaches the youngsters on the slopes a thing or two, adding: \u201cI’ve seen young lads in their 20s – terrible at skiing. And I\u2019ve stopped them, I\u2019ve said, \u2018You’re gonna hurt yourself. Let me give you a lesson\u2019 and I give them a lesson. The next day they come out and say, \u2018Thank you very much. I can ski now.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Showing no signs of slowing down, Johnny still travels extensively with Dianne, who he met doing a show on Blackpool pier 20 minutes after a gypsy predicted he would have a \u201cglorious future\u201d if he made the right decision about a woman in his life.<\/p>\n

He had split up with his first wife and says: \u201cThe gypsy said, \u2018You\u2019ve got two women in your life and if you make the right decision now, it\u2019s going to be a glorious future.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI said \u2018I don\u2019t know what the hell you\u2019re talking about.\u2019 I walked out and 20 minutes later I saw Diane working on a pier show, \u2018Johnny beams,\u2019 and her personality hit me from 30 yards.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple have recently returned from a trip to India<\/a>, and Johnny says: \u201cWe\u2019ve been everywhere, although we\u2019ve yet to visit Japan and New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently finishing the second part of his autobiography – a follow up to Johnny Ball – My Previous Life in Comedy – which is out in March, he sees plenty of scope for further adventures together.<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cI did two gigs last week. It’s a joy to be still working. They will have to nail the lid down when I go!\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnny Ball is an ambassador for the #RememberACharity<\/a> campaign, advocating for people to include a gift in their will to charity. To find out more about remembering a charity in your will, visit: https:\/\/www.rememberacharity.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kids telly legend Johnny Ball tells The Mirror he is ‘lucky’ after overcoming a shock prostate cancer diagnosis…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":153912,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[70556,14772,41639,847,6491,33551,96,6647,3954,70557,53337,70558,574,392,70555,70554,47835,24566,1598,56119,27012,56,54,55,2853],"class_list":{"0":"post-153911","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-angela-rippon","9":"tag-bbc-radio-2","10":"tag-bob-monkhouse","11":"tag-cancer","12":"tag-celebrities","13":"tag-craig-revel-horwood","14":"tag-entertainment","15":"tag-fitness","16":"tag-gogglebox","17":"tag-harry-secombe","18":"tag-idris-elba","19":"tag-johnny-ball","20":"tag-love-island","21":"tag-netflix","22":"tag-norman-cook","23":"tag-opportunity-knocks","24":"tag-prostate-cancer","25":"tag-ringo-starr","26":"tag-strictly-come-dancing","27":"tag-swimming-pools","28":"tag-talent-shows","29":"tag-uk","30":"tag-united-kingdom","31":"tag-unitedkingdom","32":"tag-zoe-ball"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153911"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153911\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}