0:00:02 > 0:00:04TV - the magic box of delights.
0:00:04 > 0:00:05As kids, it showed us
0:00:05 > 0:00:08a million different worlds, all from our living room.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12- So funny!- That was state-of-the-art.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15- Argh!- I loved this.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16Each day, I'm going
0:00:16 > 0:00:19to journey through the wonderful world of telly...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22- Cheers.- ..with one of our favourite celebrities...
0:00:22 > 0:00:23We're going into Space.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25- It's just so silly.- Oh, no!
0:00:28 > 0:00:31- Yeah!- ..as they select the iconic TV moments...
0:00:33 > 0:00:35- My God, this is the scene!- Oh, dear.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38..that tell us the stories of their lives.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41I absolutely adored this.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42'Some will make you laugh...'
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Don't watch the telly, Esther, watch me!
0:00:45 > 0:00:46'..some will surprise...'
0:00:46 > 0:00:49No way! Where did you find this?
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..many will inspire...
0:00:51 > 0:00:55It used to transport us to places that we could only dream about.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57..and others will move us.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58I am emotional now.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Today we look even more deeply.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Why wouldn't you want to watch this?
0:01:02 > 0:01:06So come watch with us as we rewind to the classic telly that
0:01:06 > 0:01:10helped shape those wide-eyed youngsters into the much-loved
0:01:10 > 0:01:11stars they are today.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21APPLAUSE
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Welcome to The TV That Made Me. My guest today is a national treasure.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29It can only be the one and only Mr Johnny Ball!
0:01:29 > 0:01:30CHEERING
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- All right?- John. Come and sit yourself down.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Welcome to my humble abode.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Johnny Ball is a national treasure.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43He may have started life as a stand-up comedian,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46but we all know him as a children's television presenter.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51The show that made him a household name was Play School, which he
0:01:51 > 0:01:53presented for 16 years.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59But he's fronted over 20 series since then,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03from Think Of A Number to Johnny Ball Reveals All.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06The TV that made him includes
0:02:06 > 0:02:08one of the most famous FA Cup finals...
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Bolton have drawn first blood within 90 seconds.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14..a landmark series on science...
0:02:14 > 0:02:17And it was instantly made a sensation.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21..and the show that launched his TV career.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22Could be seaweed, couldn't it?
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- How are you?- I'm very well. This is very nice.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Well, today's a look back at, you know, your favourite TV highlights.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33- I know.- But first we're going to delve into your past
0:02:33 > 0:02:37and find out a little bit more about the young Johnny Ball.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Johnny Ball was born Graham Ball in Bristol in 1938.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46His father Daniel worked at an iron foundry,
0:02:46 > 0:02:51whilst mum Martha-Ann worked in a factory making boots during the war.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54The family moved to Bolton when he was 11.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56He left school at 16 with just two O Levels
0:02:56 > 0:02:59and a few years later signed on with the Royal Air Force.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02It was here that he learned his craft,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05entertaining his colleagues with his funny routines.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08After three years, he left to pursue a career in comedy,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11first becoming a Butlins Redcoat, then launching
0:03:11 > 0:03:16himself as a stand up comedian on the tough Northern club circuit.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19But it wasn't long before he was spotted by the BBC,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and his long career in children's TV began.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Lovely memories there.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Yeah. Yeah, they were. My childhood was lovely.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32I was born in Bristol. Until I was 11, I was there.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Passed my 11 Plus there.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36It was blissful. It was absolutely wonderful.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Then we moved to Bolton and we were 200 yards from a Satanic mill.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42You know, and the railway shunting yards were across the road,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44where they used to drop coal into wagons.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47And everything was covered in dirt and soot and everything.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49So an incredible change.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51And it was a terrible change, but I came through that.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54My parents were so disappointed when I only got two O Levels.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01It's time for your first choice, Johnny.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04This was Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
0:04:04 > 0:04:05So your dad liked watching this?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Yeah, we all watched it.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10And, of course, we watched the famous Brucie.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Oh, here he is. Look.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Good evening!
0:04:13 > 0:04:16# Ladies and gentlemen
0:04:16 > 0:04:20# Welcome to Sunday Night At The London Palladium... #
0:04:20 > 0:04:25When ITV launched in 1955, it needed some big shows to bring
0:04:25 > 0:04:28an audience and advertisers to the new network.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Few shows were bigger
0:04:30 > 0:04:34and glitzier than Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36You see, it's pure Butlin Redcoat.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41It's all smiles, all friendly, all nice and jolly, "I love you all."
0:04:41 > 0:04:43And you've also been a Redcoat.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Oh, yeah. That was the university of comedy.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51When I was 14, I went to Filey,
0:04:51 > 0:04:56and our Redcoat captain for our house
0:04:56 > 0:04:59was a guy called Des O'Connor.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00Really? Des O'Connor?
0:05:00 > 0:05:02And he was magic.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04He'd do gags like "This here is the Pig
0:05:04 > 0:05:06"And Whistle where the pigs get a whistle.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07"Over here we have the Palm Court,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10"so called because it's got a door with a strong spring,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12"and if you're not careful, you'll get your palm caught."
0:05:12 > 0:05:14And that was the gags he was doing.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17I thought he was wonderful, and I said, "I'm going to do that."
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Oh, really? So Des played a big influence on your career?
0:05:19 > 0:05:23And eight years later, I followed him and became a Redcoat.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26But I felt so good, you know, in those few days.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28I went to the south of France. Always wanted to go there.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31What a place! Cyril, isn't it marvellous there? He lives there.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33He lives there, that boy.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34He's a great presenter, isn't he?
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Oh, he was lovely.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Oh, Beat The Clock.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41The show included the popular game Beat The Clock,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45where two contestants would take on a series of challenges.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Bruce's commentary and helpful suggestions and the imposing
0:05:49 > 0:05:53sound of the ticking clock had viewers on the edge of their seats.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58We want you to get one ball in that pocket, one ball in that pocket,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01one ball in that pocket, and the other ball in that, in that order.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03One, two, three, four.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- That is impossible! - No, it's not. No, they'll do this.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- I mean, it is big money. I mean, for its day.- Yeah.- £200.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16You have 40 seconds to the beat the clock, starting from now.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23They ain't going to do it, are they?
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- Oh, that is nice.- Oh, that's one in!
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Two, good, good.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31How that working?
0:06:31 > 0:06:35- That is really good going. - Why are the other two not moving?
0:06:35 > 0:06:37It's a bit like The Cube.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- Well done.- Oh, and this one's easy. This one's easy. How long to go?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47How long to go? Get in there, get in there, get in there!
0:06:49 > 0:06:50Oh, no!
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Oh! I mean, it really feels like event telly, doesn't it?
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Oh, it does, it does, and the Palladium's such a wonderful,
0:06:56 > 0:06:58wonderful theatre.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01How much did you admire Bruce?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Brucie I loved.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05And, you know, when you become a comedian,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08the first way to become a comedian is to watch everybody else,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and it's not stealing the jokes - you steal inflection,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15you steal ideas of how to present yourself and all those things
0:07:15 > 0:07:19become... It slowly becomes you. Pieces of everybody else.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21So I used to do Brucie's walk
0:07:21 > 0:07:24and I'd come down the stairs like Brucie. I couldn't help it.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26And I was showing off, really.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28So can you still do that walk?
0:07:28 > 0:07:34No. No! Are you expecting me to do it. I don't know if I can.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Go on, we'll try, we'll try.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- Oops.- Are you coming in? - I'm coming in.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to present for your pleasure
0:07:42 > 0:07:47and entertainment, Johnny Ball doing the Bruce Forsyth walk.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49APPLAUSE
0:07:51 > 0:07:55..to see you nice. Nice to see you. Oh, something like that.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Bruce Forsyth holds the Guinness World Record for the longest
0:07:59 > 0:08:02TV career of any male entertainer.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04After Sunday Night At The London Palladium,
0:08:04 > 0:08:09he went on to launch the legendary Generation Game on the BBC.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13He gave ITV a Brucie bonus with Play Your Cards Right.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17And he went back to the Beeb to present Brucie's Guest Night,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20an all-singing and all-dancing music and chat show.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25Most recently, he reclaimed his crown as king of Saturday Night TV
0:08:25 > 0:08:28with the incredibly successful Strictly Come Dancing.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38So we're going to move onto something that will bring
0:08:38 > 0:08:39a lump to your throat.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41I hope you're ready for this.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47'100,000 people crammed into Wembley in 1953 to watch
0:08:47 > 0:08:50'Bolton play Blackpool in the FA Cup Final.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53'It was the first Cup Final to reach a live TV audience.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55'As an avid Bolton supporter,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58'it was nail-biting stuff for a young Johnny Ball.'
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Now Bolton get going smoothly. Hassall collects and passes.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Isn't that Lofthouse? He was absolutely wonderful.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06As the ball goes to Nat Lofthouse, he shoots.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Farm fumbles and it's a goal!
0:09:08 > 0:09:13'After Bolton took a 3-1 lead, the cup seemed in their grasp
0:09:13 > 0:09:17'but they then sustained injuries and Blackpool had Stanley Matthews.'
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Oh, Mortensen scores from here.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Oh, me heart was breaking. Oh, no!
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Mortensen takes it. Wham!
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Oh, there you go!
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Oh, and here he comes.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32'Matthews' spectacular performance meant
0:09:32 > 0:09:35'the match will be forever known as the Matthews Final.'
0:09:35 > 0:09:37That was 3-3.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40But our left-half and our left-back have both been injured.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44- Right.- There were no substitutes in those days.- Oh, interesting.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45So he didn't have anybody to beat!
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Blackpool 4, Bolton 3.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Matthews recently ignored by the England selectors,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52is the Man Of The Match.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I watched this next door but one,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- and walked the 20 yards crying in the street.- Oh, really?!
0:09:59 > 0:10:01- Absolutely crying in the street... - Really?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03..because we'd lost.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06But the right-back for Bolton who had nothing to do with Matthews,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09he was on the other side and did not get beat by Matthews,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11was Johnny Ball.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13And because he was Johnny Ball,
0:10:13 > 0:10:15all my mates called me Johnny Ball.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16I loved that because it
0:10:16 > 0:10:18was a nicer name than Graham,
0:10:18 > 0:10:19I didn't like Graham...
0:10:19 > 0:10:22But they made me play right-back but I wanted to be centre-forward.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25So it ruined my football, but I've been called Johnny ever since.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- Isn't that amazing? - That's when it started.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Yeah, just from that, that's amazing.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32So even though you lost, does it still bring back good memories?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- It was terrible memories.- Really?
0:10:34 > 0:10:38It was so sad but our whole left flank was depleted
0:10:38 > 0:10:42and the left winger for Bolton was Bobby Langton,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45who also played for England now and again.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Matthews, Finney and then Langton, they were really three left-wingers.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Let's just check if you were right. Was it Matthews...?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- This is a gift for you.- Oh!- It's a programme from that day.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58APPLAUSE
0:10:58 > 0:11:00To bring back all those happy memories.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02It's made me shake.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Oh, this is wonderful! One shilling.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10And we were robbed!
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- And there's Johnny Ball, J Ball. - Yeah.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15- There you are. Oh, that's fantastic.- That's yours.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- We'll give it to you later. - Oh, right!
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Oh, that's tremendous. - Oh, it's a pleasure.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Well, now for your next choice, Johnny.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- This is Must See TV.- Right.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38The Phil Silvers Show centred around our Ernest Bilko,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41an unlikely sergeant in the US Army who spent most of his time
0:11:41 > 0:11:44dreaming up a get-rich-quick scams.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47It instantly appealed to the young Johnny Ball,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50who had recently joined the Forces.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53So this would have been on whilst you were in the RAF.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54We used to watch...
0:11:54 > 0:11:57An audience this big in a room this size,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00and we used to watch Phil Silvers and just roar.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03And then shut up to catch the next line.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04- 25 cents!- 50 cents!
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- One buck!- A buck and a half! - A buck 60!
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Stop it! Stop the sale Stop the sale!
0:12:10 > 0:12:12What do you think of Phil Silvers' performance here?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15It was just... It was made for him, he was made for it.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17It was perfect.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20He did A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, the film,
0:12:20 > 0:12:25and he was fine, but this was the starring part.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30A buck 60, a dollar 60 indeed for a television set?
0:12:30 > 0:12:32'Fast-talking and irrepressible,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34'Bilko was forever trying to
0:12:34 > 0:12:37'persuade his men to part with their cash.'
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Show them that.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41A dollar 60 for this magic box
0:12:41 > 0:12:45that brings you Jack Benny, Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason?!
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Yeah, it's only a 2" screen!
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- Oh, he was a joy, he really was, wasn't he?- Yeah.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54He was wonderful.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56So you were in the RAF while watching this.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59The RAF, yeah, and I had a fabulous time.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03All the mates who were coming out the RAF, out of National Service,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05there were two kinds.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08"Two years of wasted bloody time, waste of my life!"
0:13:08 > 0:13:10You know, terribly grumpy.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And the others said, "Oh, get in there, John,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14"volunteer for everything. Go for it."
0:13:14 > 0:13:18And, of course, I took their advice and I had a fabulous time.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22I was surrounded by boffins, people doing air-to-air missiles,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24ground-to-air missiles.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28That's where all my experience with science and technology came in,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- through rubbing shoulders with all these boffins.- Oh, right.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Oh, it was a great time.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36After leaving the RAF, Johnny started on the road
0:13:36 > 0:13:39to being a stand-up comedian, touring the north-east.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45It's hard being a comedian anyway, but to be in the north-east.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- I mean, those clubs didn't suffer fools.- Well, yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50I was lucky cos I got it right.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55There was a guy called Ricky McCabe helped me write my first act,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58and it was very simple, and it worked.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00I used to apologise to the audience.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03I used to come on with a paper bag, inflated, and I'd go,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I... I ... Before I start...
0:14:06 > 0:14:08"What I want... "
0:14:08 > 0:14:10HE STUTTERS
0:14:10 > 0:14:11"Bag of nerves."
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- LAUGHTER - And I'd walk off.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20And I'd walk off. And that gave them the time to laugh.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22What era was this? Was this '60s?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25This was '63 was when I was semipro.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Turned pro January '64.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Johnny, your next choice is very educational.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- Right.- Have a little peak at this.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44The theory of evolution by natural selection was certainly
0:14:44 > 0:14:51the most important single scientific innovation in the 19th century.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54This is the Ascent Of Man.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Mr Bronowski.
0:14:56 > 0:15:03And today we look even more deeply at the chemistry that we all share.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08The Ascent Of Man was a personal view of the history of science
0:15:08 > 0:15:13and technology through the eyes of historian Jacob Bronowski.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17From the very first...
0:15:17 > 0:15:23This book that he wrote with this series has been my Bible.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- It was commissioned by Sir David Attenborough, the series.- Yeah.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32From that moment, it was no longer possible to believe any story which
0:15:32 > 0:15:37supposed that at any time now there could be created
0:15:37 > 0:15:41once again the beginning of life.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45But it's sadly so pedantic and slow for today that it's never been...
0:15:45 > 0:15:49It has been shown once and it didn't do particularly well.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53He was wonderful, and it was the only series he ever did.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56There's the lovely story when he was in Auschwitz,
0:15:56 > 0:16:02and he bends down and he's talking about man's inhumanity to man.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04I owe it as a human being
0:16:04 > 0:16:08to the many members of my family who died here
0:16:08 > 0:16:11to stand here as a survivor and a witness.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16We have to cure ourselves
0:16:16 > 0:16:20of the itch for absolute knowledge and power.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26And he picks up the dust from the floor, and as he's doing it -
0:16:26 > 0:16:28and he only did once take -
0:16:28 > 0:16:32he realises this isn't earth,
0:16:32 > 0:16:33this is ash.
0:16:35 > 0:16:43We have to close the distance between the push-button order
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and the human act.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50We have to...touch people.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53And he felt that as he did the piece.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55And he held it, walked off-camera
0:16:55 > 0:16:57and cried and cried and cried.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59And that was him.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01So you can do so much with television,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and if you time it right and if you edit it right,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07the audience absolutely would be much more intelligent than
0:17:07 > 0:17:09you give them credit for,
0:17:09 > 0:17:10and will take it.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Bronowski, his book is my Bible.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23The next show made you a favourite with kids across the country.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Let's have a look at your big break.
0:17:26 > 0:17:27Of course it's Play School.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- Hello.- Hello.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34This, this is going to be a mountain. There you are, Hamble.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35You can sit on top.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37That's Sarah Long.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Well, no, that's a puppet. LAUGHTER
0:17:40 > 0:17:43- It's a puppet!- It is a puppet.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45These are the pieces of material.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49It can be fields and things on the lower slopes.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Play School was the first-ever show to broadcast on BBC Two,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57after the channel's grand opening plan for the previous night
0:17:57 > 0:17:58was scuppered by a power cut.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Some light blue material here,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05that can be the shallow water.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Purple trousers!
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Who bought me purple trousers?
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Johnny was one of the longest-serving presenters,
0:18:12 > 0:18:17chalking up 545 episodes over 16 years.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19At what sort of age what this aimed at?
0:18:19 > 0:18:21It was definitely under fives.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23- Under fives.- And it worked.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27Now, they didn't do any fairy stories, no elves and pixies,
0:18:27 > 0:18:32no fantasy. And nobody ever notices that.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37It was all factual, it was all about life, really.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41And this is darker blue, this could be the deepwater,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44the deep sea further out.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45And it can be all wavy.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48HE IMITATES WAVES CRASHING
0:18:48 > 0:18:50So how did you get the job on Play School?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Well, somebody said,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56"We're looking for presenters for children's television."
0:18:56 > 0:18:59And the producer rang my agent and said,
0:18:59 > 0:19:01"Johnny would be perfect for this."
0:19:01 > 0:19:02It must be Crackerjack.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05So I go for an interview in Manchester
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and I breeze in, and I've got the job in two minutes.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11And he said, "Oh, you're going to be fabulous in Play School.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13LAUGHTER
0:19:13 > 0:19:15"What's Play School?"
0:19:15 > 0:19:18He said, "It's for under fives, 11 o'clock in the morning, BBC Two."
0:19:18 > 0:19:20And I went, "Thanks a lot."
0:19:20 > 0:19:22And I got up to walk out.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25And I got to the door, and he came and he put his hand on my hand
0:19:25 > 0:19:28and he said, "No, come and chat." So I went, "All right."
0:19:28 > 0:19:31So we went back and chatted and he persuaded me to do the audition.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34And when I started doing, Play School I couldn't do it
0:19:34 > 0:19:36cos he gave me a toy, you know, Hamble,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38and sing a song to Hamble.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41And being a stand-up comic it was very difficult,
0:19:41 > 0:19:42and I couldn't do it.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44So after three weeks they said,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46"When you're doing something you like you're great.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50"When you're doing something you don't like you're terrible.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54"So you've either got to get a grip and forget adults,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57"and talk for under-fives, or we'll have to let you go."
0:19:57 > 0:20:02And I went out and I thought, "Why am I being bad at something
0:20:02 > 0:20:05"because of some chip on my shoulder?" You see?
0:20:05 > 0:20:07And I changed, and I loved it.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10And I loved the integrity of the people who did Play School.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I mean, Derek Griffiths, a great performer,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15he joined just after me,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19and I saw his audition, and gales of laughter in the gallery
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- with no effort at all.- Yeah.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23It was just lovely.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27I would drop kick Humpty through the window.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29- Really?- That's a wrap. Boink!
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- That's what we want to hear. I like that picture.- Yeah.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37We used to do that in studio seven in Television Centre,
0:20:37 > 0:20:41and we'd have Morecambe and Wise or the Two Ronnies next door,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44and in a break they'd come and walk through other studio. Why?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Cos they said, "We used to watch it with our kids."
0:20:47 > 0:20:50And they would come round and chat to us
0:20:50 > 0:20:55and then they'd go off and do their shows for nine million, you know, peak shows,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and we'd do our thing at 11 o'clock in the morning.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58I mean, 16 years.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Yeah. 16 years, yeah.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03And it was just such a lovely period.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05It was the golden age of television,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08especially for BBC Children's.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10We were the best in the world by far.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12And that's what I did.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14We're very glad you did.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15LAUGHTER
0:21:15 > 0:21:19How did you go into the BBC with the sales pitch for Think Again?
0:21:19 > 0:21:22They said... I was writing the...
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- They approached you?- No.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27They said...
0:21:27 > 0:21:30They said, "If you had your own series what would you do?"
0:21:30 > 0:21:32I said, "I'd do a programme on maths."
0:21:32 > 0:21:35And so that was Think Of A Number.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39But we found that the audience slowed the programme down
0:21:39 > 0:21:41because I could only go at a certain speed.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45So we did Think Again, and the reason we did Think Again is
0:21:45 > 0:21:48because I could do it straight to camera and get,
0:21:48 > 0:21:53we're television, and get more to the audience, the TV audience,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55get more to the TV audience, and that's why we did it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58And they were my favourite programmes, the Think Agains.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03In the latter years of his life the great Isaac Newton spent much
0:22:03 > 0:22:07of his time studying alchemy, trying to turn base metals into gold.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08He never achieved it,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12but that's perhaps because he never had equipment like this!
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Freed up from having to entertain a studio audience, Think Again
0:22:17 > 0:22:21allowed Johnny to explore a much wider range of topics in depth,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25focusing on one subject for an entire episode.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Is it? Of course it's not.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30It's the base from which gold paint is made.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35And, as you know, you can buy gold paint in any paint shop in the high street.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38How much gold is there in gold paint? Not a scrap.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41However, you can produce gold in a laboratory.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44It's possible to turn platinum into gold.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46But as platinum is rarer than gold
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and more expensive it's a pointless exercise.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Besides, you need atomic physics to do it.
0:22:52 > 0:22:53It's all very costly.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57But you can produce startling effects very cheaply
0:22:57 > 0:22:58with other metals.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Metal like titanium.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05Well, that programme got an International Emmy nomination,
0:23:05 > 0:23:12and it was beaten by a programme with all of 20 times our budget.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15And, oh, it was just wonderful doing those programmes.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18And I think I was, if I can say it,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22I was suddenly at my writing peak.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25- And it was the comedy training, you see.- Yeah.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29You know with a comic, a gag has to go boom, boom, bash. You know?
0:23:29 > 0:23:32It's got a timing. It might be boom, boom, boom, bash.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36And you paint a scene and turn it on its head, and that's comedy.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38You know?
0:23:38 > 0:23:40And so that's how I wrote my scripts -
0:23:40 > 0:23:42as though I was writing comedy.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46So when I was talking about science and it had to go bang. I had to say da! And boom!
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I mean, what you underestimate is how cleverly you were explaining
0:23:49 > 0:23:51these things so children could get a grip on it.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53I just loved the medium.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55I love it.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58And it's just a wonderful thing, television.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00It's a great communicator, the greatest educator.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03We're all better educated because of television. We know more.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05It doesn't matter whether we watch rubbish or not.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08We're all educated because we know you, Johnny Ball.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10- JOHNNY LAUGHS - Well, I see.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14- I'm 77 now, but I'm still working. - You still look good.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17And I'm still working and enjoying it so much.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19We're much better than we think,
0:24:19 > 0:24:24and the future is brighter than anyone can imagine.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Cos it was, comparing when I was a kid to today,
0:24:28 > 0:24:32much brighter than anyone could have imagined, and it'll go on.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34And that's what you tell your kids.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38And that's how we sell television, that's how we sell education.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Oh, it should be beautiful
0:24:41 > 0:24:43in the future.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57And, Johnny, is there any TV that you like watching now?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59I love the good detectives.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01I still love the Poirots, I still do,
0:25:01 > 0:25:02even though I've seen them -
0:25:02 > 0:25:05different productions, but done again -
0:25:05 > 0:25:07and I know who's done it. It's lovely.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09I like Not Going Out.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I think it's fabulous. I think it's absolutely...
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- The programme, or not going out? - Yeah, well, there you are! Yeah.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Oh, I never don't go out.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Yeah, Not Going Out I think is a beautiful sitcom.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24It's a lovely thing, and it's...
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Do you know, it's modern in an old tradition, in a way.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29And it's pure. It's just pure and very inventive.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32- And very well written. - Oh, it's gorgeous.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Lee Mack, isn't it? Oh, he's just wonderful.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Go on, then, give me a compliment.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38All right.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41In this episode, Lee Mack is finally admitting
0:25:41 > 0:25:44his feelings for long-suffering flatmate Lucy.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48And he's making a typically ham-fisted attempt at it.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50All right, what about this?
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Your eyes look nice.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- Why do they look nice? - Because...
0:25:55 > 0:25:57your eyelashes look like...
0:25:57 > 0:26:00two tiny little crows that have crashed into the windscreen
0:26:00 > 0:26:02of your face.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06And bringing it back to television and children's TV,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09are you proud that Zoe followed your footsteps?
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Oh, it's just wonderful, you know?
0:26:11 > 0:26:14The great thing is I didn't write my first programme,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16factual programme, till I was 39.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Zoe had a great opening career then went quiet,
0:26:21 > 0:26:27- and she got Strictly, and she was about 39, 40.- Oh, right.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32- Not Strictly, but It Takes Two. - Mm-hm.- And...
0:26:32 > 0:26:36It's a perfect job for her. It's perfect for her.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41And then you see all the people coming in who, in 16 weeks,
0:26:41 > 0:26:45are incredibly good, you know? It's a beautiful programme.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46- Except for you.- Except for me.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52Leave it out! And she has dovetailed that job.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54It's perfect for her, she's perfect for it,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58- and it'll go on and on, and it's lovely.- Awww!
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Now, I give my guests an opportunity now to pick a theme tune for us
0:27:01 > 0:27:04to play out on. Have you got any thoughts?
0:27:04 > 0:27:09Oh... Right, I wrote five educational stage musicals,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12and one was called Let The Force Be With You.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14And I needed a finishing number.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17And I stole this number...
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- ..which is Mr Ed.- Mr Ed!
0:27:21 > 0:27:24# A horse is a horse, of course, of course
0:27:24 > 0:27:25# And everyone understands... #
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Right. What I wrote was...
0:27:29 > 0:27:32# A force is a force, of course, of course
0:27:32 > 0:27:34# And everyone understands force, of course
0:27:34 > 0:27:36# Especially when, as a matter of course
0:27:36 > 0:27:38# You've seen us performing the show. #
0:27:38 > 0:27:43But that was it. And so writing lyrics, I love. Finding the tunes...
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Yeah, very often they're a bit borrowed.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47So, Johnny, thank you for being on,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- and you're going to go out with Mr Ed...- With Mr Ed.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52- ..as your play-out tune.- Right.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54So it's my thanks to YOU, Johnny Ball,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and my thanks to YOU for watching The TV That Made Me.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- We'll see you next time. Bye-bye!- See ya!
0:28:00 > 0:28:03# And no-one can talk to a horse, of course
0:28:03 > 0:28:07# That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr Ed
0:28:07 > 0:28:10# Go right to the source and ask the horse
0:28:10 > 0:28:12# He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse
0:28:12 > 0:28:14# He's always on a steady course
0:28:14 > 0:28:15# Talk to Mr Ed!
0:28:15 > 0:28:18# A horse is a horse, of course, of course
0:28:18 > 0:28:20# And this one will talk till his voice is hoarse
0:28:20 > 0:28:22# You never heard of a talking horse?
0:28:24 > 0:28:27# Well, listen to this!
0:28:27 > 0:28:30# I am Mr Ed! #