Zoe Ball‘s father, Johnny Ball, has said he is ‘still fit at 87’ as he reflected on his past prostate cancer battle.
Last year, the TV personality, 87, revealed he was diagnosed in August 2022 and underwent treatment, confirming he had ‘got through it’ and was now ‘doing fine’.
And despite facing a challenging few years, the children’s TV legend has said he remains upbeat and feels content with life.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: ‘I’ve been kicked in the teeth in every possible way by life and by situations and by people.
‘But I still cannot help but smile. I have my wife, my dog, my life. I’m very happy with my life. I’m happy that I’m still fit at 87.’
He added: ‘By rights, I don’t have long left, I want to spend it with a smile on my face.’
Zoe Ball’s father, Johnny Ball, has said he is ‘still fit at 87’ as he reflected on his past prostate cancer battle (pictured 2018)
Johnny shot to fame in the 1960s, fronting BBC children’s show Play School, and despite a career spanning seven decades, he shows no signs of slowing down.
He has now written a second memoir, Stories That Must Be Told!, which is set to be released on March 28.
Elsewhere in the interview, Johnny revealed that when he was first diagnosed, he spent several days unsure of how serious the illness was.
He said he and his wife Dianne even discussed whether he might be ‘coming to the end’, admitting he felt ‘quite pleased’ in a way that he had come to terms with it.
At the time, he considered ‘cashing in’ and finishing long-held ideas, before doctors reassured him he would undergo radiation treatment and recover.
Reflecting on his recovery, Johnny said coming through cancer is a wonderful relief and feels like he has been ‘blessed with more years’.
In September last year, Johnny revealed he had been secretly battling prostate cancer as he spoke publicly about his diagnosis for the first time.
At the time, Johnny said he felt ‘lucky’ as his daily radiation treatment started just weeks after being diagnosed.
Last year, the TV personality, 87, revealed he was diagnosed in August 2022 and underwent treatment, confirming he had ‘got through it’ and was now ‘doing fine’ (pictured with daughter Zoe in 2005)
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: ‘I’ve been kicked in the teeth in every possible way by life and by situations and by people. But I still cannot help but smile. I have my wife, my dog, my life’ (pictured with wife Dianne in 2012)
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 keeps ‘incredibly fit’ by doing a simple seven-minute workout routine and watching his diet.
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 his 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, 55, 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.
