Johnny Ball - My Previous Life in Comedy

An engaging and entertaining memoir from national treasure Johnny Ball, chronicling his early life and career up to the early 1980s.

‘The presenter was one of the most recognisable faces on children’s TV’

‘The face of 1970s and 80s children’s TV’

‘A hilarious and snappy page-turner’

‘It''s an honest book full of great stories, humour and warmth, and when you read it you can feel Johnny''s energy bouncing off the page.’

‘A humorous and candid story of a rich and colourful life well-lived.’

From an idyllic childhood in Bristol, with my gag-a-minute dad inspiring me to become a comedian, to dreadful teenage years in Bolton where education overlooked me, and all I learnt was how to be funny.

My first job gave me a taste of success and confidence, followed by my real education in the RAF. Butlins gifted me an enduring smile, and in Liverpool, I worked with the less fortunate while crossing paths with future stars.

Then came seventeen wonderful years of stand-up comedy, which took me across the UK and abroad, entertaining the British Forces, before a TV career began in failure, only to rise from the ashes with Di, the love of my life, and a new career in Maths and Science.

Packed with wildly funny tales, this book isn’t half a good story – or is it?

• | Author: Johnny Ball
• | Publisher: The Book Guild Ltd
• | Publication Date: Mar 28, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781835741665
• | ISBN-10: 1835741665