Johnny Ball has revealed that he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer as he opened up about his health battle for the first time. 

The Children’s TV legend, 87, who found fame in 1967, revealed he was diagnosed in August 2022 and has been receiving treatment.

Johnny said he is ‘lucky’ as he has had daily radiation starting weeks after being diagnosed, and has now confirmed that he has got ‘through it and is doing fine’.

He told The 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.’

Father-of-three Johnny, who has annual health checks, does not take surviving prostate cancer for granted as some of his friends ‘didn’t survive’.

The presenter also revealed how he keep ‘incredibly fit’ by doing a simple seven minute workout routine and watching his diet.

Johnny Ball has revealed that he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer as he opened up about his health battle for the first time; pictured 2018

The Children’s TV legend, 87, who found fame in 1967, revealed he was diagnosed in August 2022 and has been receiving treatment; pictured with daughter Zoe Ball in 2005

He told the publication: ‘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.’

He also explained that his diet has played a role in his fitness as he enjoys ‘cereal with prunes’ for breakfast and joked he likes ‘two pints’ of beer in the evening.

The much-loved TV presenter is well known as the face of classic kids’ shows Play School and Think Of A Number.

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

The couple share two sons, Dan, 46, a civil engineer, and Nick, 48, who writes films – most recently working on the horror film, The Trip, which reached number one on Netflix.

Meanwhile his former Radio 2 presenter daughter Zoe, 54, he welcomed with his first wife Julia, who died in April 2024 from pancreatic cancer.

Johnny also has six grandchildren including Zoe’s son Woody, 24.

Johnny said he is ‘lucky’ as he has had daily radiation starting weeks after being diagnosed and has now confirmed that he has got ‘through it and is doing fine’; pictured 2014

He said: ‘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’; pictured with Zoe in 2021

It comes after Zoe fought back tears earlier this month as she revealed she had an emotional breakdown following her mother’s death last year.

Zoe, 54, was forced to take time off from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show following Julia’s passing in April 2024 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Late last year it was announced that Zoe would step down from her morning slot, with Scott Mills taking over from her.

Now, Zoe has opened up about her mum’s passing and the sheer impact it had on her, revealing she was forced to take time off work following a breakdown.

Speaking on her Persephonica podcast Dig It with Jo Whiley, Zoe said: ‘I couldn’t work.

‘I was on the floor in the kitchen. I couldn’t, I couldn’t move.

‘I had a proper emotional breakdown, you know, I haven’t really talked about it actually. But it was, yeah, it was brutal.

‘I had an amazing doctor who turned up at my door with coffee and bagels and said, “so, we need to get you some help”, and he was wonderful.’

Zoe has avoided discussing her mother’s passing publicly until now.

As she continues to grieve, the mum of two admitted she found Julia’s first birthday since her passing extremely difficult.

She explained: ‘It’s a year and a bit since we lost Mum, and I found her birthday this year, the toughest, the toughest, you know, a whole year later.

Father-of-three Johnny, who has annual health checks, does not take surviving prostate cancer for granted as some of his friends ‘didn’t survive’; pictured with wife Dianne in 2012

‘That was brutal. It was a week of absolute weeping, I still get quite emotional sort of talking about mum, even now.

‘But I think leaning on your loved ones is the best thing and also just not being afraid to weep. There’s a lot of crying, there’s a lot of pain that has to come out.’

Before Zoe left her breakfast show on Radio 2 she was one of the highest-paid female presenters at the BBC, taking home £950,000.

Announcing her mother’s death on social media, Zoe wrote: ‘Sleep tight dear Mama.

‘Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts. We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.’