Johnny Ball, the 87-year-old television veteran, has confessed to once upsetting his daughter, broadcaster Zoe Ball, with a joke about her career. In an interview with The i Newspaper, he recalled referring to her as an 'autocue reader', a comment that did not go down well.
'I upset her once when I joked, 'Here's my daughter, Zoe, the autocue reader.' I never did that again,' Johnny said. 'She wants to be respected as a broadcaster - and she is.' He praised Zoe's natural comedic talent, noting she has a sharp wit and ability to deliver barbed lines effectively.
Johnny, best known for presenting Think of a Number, also revealed he never formally offered career advice to Zoe or his other two children, saying they are 'forging their own way'. Zoe, 55, began her career in children's television before moving to mainstream roles, including presenting Strictly: It Takes Two and hosting the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
She is currently a leading candidate to host Strictly Come Dancing after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Zoe said she would love to do it but acknowledged the tough act to follow. 'Whoever gets to do it has a tough act to follow,' she concluded.
