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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Bill Bowkett

Johnny Ball, 87, reveals secret cancer battle as veteran children's presenter opens up about health scare

Johnny Ball, the legendary children’s television presenter, has revealed that he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer.

The veteran broadcaster, who found fame in the 1960s, revealed he was diagnosed three years ago and has been receiving treatment.

Ball, 87, said he is a “lucky” man because he started receiving daily radiotherapy weeks after being diagnosed.

Now, in news that will delight millions of fans of the celebrated BBC star and author, Ball has confirmed that he has got “through it and is doing fine'”.

He told the Daily 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.”

But the father-of-three, who has annual health checks, said he does not take surviving prostate cancer for granted as some of his friends “didn't survive”.

Ball, who headed popular programmes including Play School and Think of a Number, Think Again, also explained how he has kept “incredibly fit” in his 80s.

Zoe Ball shared a moment with her father Johnny Ball (ITV)

He said: “First 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. My daily routine is six to seven minutes at the most, but it keeps me incredibly fit.”

Ball is married to second wife Dianne, a former dance teacher, and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

The couple share two sons, civil engineer Dan, 46, and film writer Nick, 48. Ball also shares daughter Zoe, 54, the radio presenter, with first wife Julia.

Prostate cancer is the the second most common cause of cancer death in males, killing roughly 9,000 men in England every year.

Ball and her daughter are reportedly being lined up to host an educational series on the history of mathematics.

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