Johnny Ball, the beloved television personality and maths enthusiast, has shared his dream of working on a TV project with his daughter, Zoe Ball, and her son Woody. However, despite his enthusiasm, Johnny, 87, reveals he is facing a significant obstacle in getting the project off the ground.
Johnny, who began his career in 1967 as a presenter for Play School on BBC, later became known for his BAFTA-winning educational programme Think of a Number. Over the years, he popularized mathematics and is now eager to work with his daughter Zoe, 55, and her son, Woody. The family project idea revolves around Greek mathematics, where they would explore its relevance through the lens of three generations, with Johnny humorously noting, “Pythagoras was a terrible idiot, but he did produce the first music theory.”
Speaking to The Times, Johnny revealed his struggle to get anyone to pick up the show. “I’d love to work on a TV project with Zoe and my grandson Woody, but I can’t get anyone to pick it up,” he said. Despite the difficulty, he remains hopeful, sharing that the family gatherings are always filled with laughter, something Zoe’s ex-husband, Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim), often remarked upon during his visits.
Meanwhile, Zoe, who is currently a frontrunner to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as host of Strictly Come Dancing, has been fueling rumors about her upcoming TV role. In a recent podcast appearance, Zoe teased a “glamorous” assignment but remained tight-lipped about the details. “Absolutely nothing going on my end, nothing at all,” she joked, before hinting at something bigger ahead. With names like Rylan Clark, Fleur East, Janette Manrara, and Hannah Waddingham also in the mix, speculation about who will host the next season of Strictly continues to grow.
As Johnny and Zoe’s potential collaboration remains a dream, Zoe’s career continues to soar, with fans eagerly awaiting news about her next big move. Will the family’s dream project ever come to life? Only time will tell.
