"Johnny Ball's ability to make the obscure understandable has already been well proven" - The Sunday Times

Johnny is a popularizer of science and mathematics, writing and presenting 23 Solo Television series, with "Think of a Number", "Think Again", etc (BBC), and "Johnny Ball Reveals All" (ITV). His TV shows and videos won 12 awards, including a BAFTA., a New York International Emmy nomination, and the ITVA "Presenter of the Year" Craft Award.

Recent TV includes “Odds and Probability” ITV, “Simply Complicated” BBC, Countdown and “Lads Army” ITV and Terry and Gaby, Channel 5. Radio- Family Business and Inspirations.

Book - "Think of a Number" or "Go Figure" in the USA, for DK - sales in over 30 countries, including Japan, Russia, Korea. It explains the many branches of Maths.

"Mathmagicians" published 1st July, sister book to "Think of a Number." How Maths is applied and who did it first. As far as we know there has been no children's book on this subject for 50 years.

 

Enthusing on prospects for science and technology, recent addresses include the Oxford Union (twice), RAF Cranwell, I.Mec.E, Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Airbus UK, Dyson, Bae, BNFL, IBM, Rolls Royce, 100 years of the Electron for Sheffield Univs, Chinese Science for a Beijing Exhibition in Manchester, Histories of Shipping & Medical Science, lectures on Einstein, Priestley and Dalton, and Maths master classes for Southampton, Imperial, John Moores Univs, SWEDA, etc. He once made 40 speeches in two weeks. He features regularly in voice-overs. Clients include BBC, BT, National Express, London Transport, Nat Space Centre, Fiat Punto, One Tel, Innocent Smoothies, TSB etc. He often represents the DFES on social matters - Life Long Learning, BECTA, Learn Direct, Etc.

As an Ambassador for Engineering, he hosted presentations for National Grid (9 yrs) and all branches of Engineering. At the Tomorrow’s World Live Exhibition, he delivered 7 new lectures for Young Engineers and ran the DFES “Future Maths” stand. He wrote, produced and presented “Structures”, a highly inter-active CD ROM for the Gatsby Technology Program. Johnny enlivens many educational or corporate events, awards eveings and dinners annually - IET Awards, Plastics Industry dinner, and speaks on Waste and Nuclear Energy.

Johnny has three honorary doctorates in Science from Glasgow (1997) Sheffield Hallam (1998) and Salford Universities (2001), one in Arts from Leicester (2007) and is an honorary fellow of John Moores University (2006) and Fellow of the RSA. Silver Medal for the Public Understanding of Engineering from the RAE in 2007. He was Lord Rector of Glasgow University 1994/6; President Nat Assoc for Gifted Children 1991/7; has written 7 books, devised GET SET which puts 400 girls through 26 projects at Imperial College annually, opened the Science Museum's Launch Pad and hosted its 10th Anniversary. Recent education campaigns include Maths for ASDA and SEEDA and he is a Maths, Science and Educational pundit, featuring frequently on radio and TV.

His educational musical, “Tales of Maths and Legends” launched Maths Year 2000, and packed major theatres (160,000 in 16 months) and was followed by “Tales of Blooming Science” for DFES Science Year. These followed the "Think of a Number" Roadshow (13 years), "Michael Faraday’s All Electric Roadshow", "Let the Force be with You!" (250,000) and “Energy Champions”. His British Aerospace “Mind Zone” Live Show SOLD OUT FOR ALL SHOWS at the Millennium Dome throughout 2000 and Johnny featured in BAE’s “Engineering our Future” & Hewlett Packard's "Invent" campaigns.

As a late 60's comedian, he appeared in Val Doonican and Harry Secombe TV Shows, compered ITV's 1967 Christmas Night Spectacular, the first Rolling Stones Tour, starred in Sadlers Wells Opera, featured in Playschool for 17 years, wrote Playaway and adult TV comedy before turning to factual information. He recently took up drumming again (after 40 years) and represented Roland Drums for "Keep Music Live" at Birmingham NEC.

Johnny was recently seen crying with joy for Zoe who "Wuz Rob'd" in the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing." Son Nick's first film (director/co-writer) won Golden Dragon Award 2004, in New Zealand, first film script now in production, Hollywood. Son Dan is a qualified structural engineer in London. His wife Di keeps Johnny "On the Ball" at their home in South Bucks.