Johnny Ball: ‘The BBC has destroyed children’s television’

“Military service? It set me up for life!” says Johnny Ball. “People today imagine it was brutal but, honestly, I found the culture in TV to be far more cut-throat. My memories of the military are full of joy and camaraderie. I think some time in the military would really help kids today who are drifting, disconnected, feeling they might be cleverer and capable of more than their school results suggest.”