ZOE BALL is eyeing up a telly comeback – and it’s going to be a family affair.
I can reveal her presenter dad Johnny Ball has created a new factual series about his favourite subject, maths — and he’s called in the Radio 2 star and her DJ son Woody Cook, to front the show with him.
And Johnny is so keen to make the series work, he claims to have turned down an appearance on BBC One hit Celebrity Race Across The World alongside Zoe and Woody — where they would compete as a trio.
The new show will tell the story of “the history of maths” across three different generations and is based on the first six chapters of his book, Wonders Beyond Numbers.
Johnny is a much-loved face of British TV having hosted classic kids’ shows including Play School and Think Of A Number in the Seventies and Eighties and the new series will be a welcome return for him.
Johnny told me: “The material can be honed down to the essentials, so that anyone could present it in a light and transparent way.
“This is why I believe myself, Zoe and my grandson Woody could add all what each age group requires to make it a fascinating and revealing series.”
Zoe and Woody have appeared together on Celebrity Gogglebox, but this would be the first time three generations of Balls have teamed up on air.
Johnny admits having broadcasting fave Zoe on board is a “big pull” for TV bosses, who he now hopes he can convince to commission the series.
The trio will be a worthy addition to any channel.
Bizbit
KEEN to dive into the biggest TV stories of the week?
Watch our new weekly Showbiz Fix show free online.
The latest episode sees us talk Love Island, Simon Cowell’s devotion to son Eric and the ongoing Beckham family feud.
Check it all out at youtube.com/thesunshowbiz.
SI BANGS THE DRUM FOR SON
SIMON COWELL has revealed that he won’t hold back on criticism with his son if he wants to become a musician.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge is open to Eric, 11 – his boy with fiancée Lauren Silverman – pursuing a showbiz career – as long as he is talented.
Simon Cowell says he won’t hold back on criticism with his son Eric if he wants to become a musician[/caption]
He told This Morning: “If he said to me, ‘I want to be a singer’ and he couldn’t sing, I would be absolutely honest.
“I would say, ‘You know what, be a drummer’. He actually can play the drums well, but he’s quite shy.”
On his close relationship with his only child, Simon added: “Out of everything I’ve ever done in my life, [being a dad] is the best thing.
“It gives you a purpose. Everything is for them.
“I actually really, really enjoy his company. He’s a good kid.”
RUTH: I’D BOOK ME TO STAR
AFTER turning her attention to novels, Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones now wants to play one of her books’ characters on screen.
The actress, who has just released her fourth novel, has high hopes of turning it into a TV series – and playing leading lady Linda Standish.
Ruth Jones wants to play one of her books’ characters on screen[/caption]
By Your Side follows Linda, a divorced, plus-sized Scottish woman in her fifties who works at the Unclaimed Heirs Unit tracking down family members when someone dies without a will.
One case sees her investigate Levi Norman, a Welshman who lived on a remote island before he suddenly passed away.
Ruth said: “This book, people have talked a bit more about a screen adaptation.
“A lot of people and early readers have said to me, ‘Who would you get to play these characters like Linda?’.
“I’m in my fifties, and I’m a plus-size woman but admittedly I am not Scottish!”
Bizbit
BBC comedy drama Boarders has been confirmed for a third and final series.
The six-parter sees the return of Jodie Campbell, Sekou Diaby, Aruna Jalloh, Myles Kamwendo and Josh Tedeku as South London teens transported to live a new life at an elite boarding school in Bristol.
TRUMP VS MUSK
CHANNEL 4 will take a deep dive into the fallout between President Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk in a fast-turnaround documentary that hits screens tonight.
The hour-long special was commissioned last Friday after the “bromance” between the pair turned sour with a social media showdown.
The fallout between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk is the subject of a new Channel 4 doc[/caption]
An insider teased: “After the bromance, the split was always on the cards, but few could have predicted the scale and vitriol when Elon Musk and President Trump finally fell out.
“The Showdown will be delivered down to the wire to bring us up to date with the fallout and global implications of this short-lived alliance.”
Musk v Trump: The Showdown will air at 8pm.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
