Paul Ballard: The Story of the Former Diggit Presenter

Paul Ballard, better known to many television viewers as “Des,” is a former British television presenter and stage actor who became familiar to a generation of children during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He rose to recognition through children’s television, particularly as one of the presenters of GMTV’s popular weekend programme Diggit, where he worked alongside Fearne Cotton. Although his television career was relatively brief, Ballard remains a name remembered by viewers who grew up watching British children’s programming during that era. His later life, however, took a very different direction and eventually became the subject of serious criminal and court proceedings.

Quick Bio of Paul Ballard

Early Life and Entry Into Television

Paul Ballard was born in Essex, England, on 9 March 1982. He entered the entertainment industry at a young age and began building experience as both an actor and presenter. His early career coincided with a period when British children’s television was an important part of weekend broadcasting, providing young performers with opportunities to establish themselves in front of national audiences.

One of Ballard’s early television appearances came in the BBC comedy Bottom. He appeared in the episode “Terror,” which was broadcast during the 1990s. Although it was a relatively small role, it was an early indication of his involvement in television before he became known primarily as a children’s presenter.

The Disney Club and Roadhog

Ballard became associated with children’s television through The Disney Club, a programme connected with ITV’s children’s programming. During this period, he was known professionally as “Des,” a name that became closely associated with his television persona.

He also presented a feature known as Roadhog. The programme involved a distinctive Volkswagen camper van travelling to different locations, including schools and homes. The format gave Ballard an opportunity to interact directly with young viewers and helped establish his reputation as a children’s television presenter.

His work during this period also placed him in the same television environment as Fearne Cotton. Cotton would eventually become one of Britain’s best-known television and radio personalities, but during the late 1990s she was still at the beginning of her broadcasting career.

Becoming a Presenter on Diggit

Ballard’s most recognizable television role came with Diggit, a GMTV children’s programme that began in 1998. He was one of the original presenters alongside Fearne Cotton.

Diggit was designed around the fast-paced style typical of children’s weekend television. It featured games, competitions, entertainment and interaction with viewers. Ballard and Cotton became strongly associated with the programme during its early years.

The show began broadcasting in March 1998 and occupied important weekend morning slots. Its combination of presenters, games and children’s entertainment made it a familiar part of Saturday and Sunday television for many young viewers.

Ballard remained connected with Diggit until 2002. The programme subsequently changed format and was relaunched as Diggin’ It. His departure marked the end of the period in which he was most visible to mainstream television audiences.

Working Alongside Fearne Cotton

One of the most notable aspects of Ballard’s television career was his professional relationship with Fearne Cotton. The pair presented Diggit during the early years of the programme, at a time when both were developing their careers.

Cotton eventually went on to achieve much greater mainstream recognition through television, radio and entertainment programmes. Ballard, by contrast, largely disappeared from the public eye after leaving children’s television.

This difference in their later careers contributed to continuing curiosity about Ballard. Viewers who remembered watching Diggit often wondered what happened to the presenter who had shared the screen with Cotton.

In 2010, Cotton reportedly spoke publicly about having lost touch with Ballard and expressed curiosity about what had happened to her former co-presenter. Her comments helped revive interest in Ballard among people who remembered the programme.

Stage Acting and Peter Pan

Television presenting was not Ballard’s only connection with entertainment. He also pursued stage acting.

In 2001, he played Smee in a production of Peter Pan at the Central Theatre in Kent. The role allowed him to demonstrate his performance skills outside the television studio.

His work in theatre is significant because it shows that his early career was broader than simply presenting children’s programmes. He had experience in acting as well as live performance, giving him a foundation in several areas of the entertainment industry.

Why Did Paul Ballard Leave Television?

Ballard eventually left Diggit and disappeared from regular television. Unlike some of his former colleagues, he did not go on to build a similarly prominent public broadcasting career.

There is limited reliable public information about the details of his life and career during the years immediately following his departure from television. This lack of information led to considerable curiosity among former viewers.

It is important, however, to avoid filling those gaps with internet speculation. A person’s absence from television does not by itself establish what they were doing privately, and many claims circulating online about public figures are not supported by reliable evidence.

His Later Criminal Convictions

Ballard’s later life became widely reported because of serious criminal proceedings.

On 20 February 2020, Ballard was involved in an eight-car collision in Romford, Essex, which resulted in the deaths of Eileen Haskell, aged 64, and Richard Trezise, aged 48. Ballard later pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

At the Old Bailey, the court heard that Ballard had been driving within a 30 mph limit before suffering a seizure and accelerating dramatically in the moments before the collision. Reports from the sentencing also stated that he had taken cocaine and that his 12-year-old son was in the vehicle.

In August 2021, Ballard was sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the two deaths by dangerous driving.

The case received considerable media attention because of the number of vehicles involved and the tragic loss of two lives. It also represented a dramatic contrast with Ballard’s earlier public image as a children’s television presenter.

Further Convictions and Prison Sentence

Ballard faced additional criminal proceedings later in 2021. In October of that year, he received a further 10-year sentence for rape, attempted rape, assault, criminal damage and threats to kill. The sentence was consecutive to the nine-year sentence he had already received, resulting in a combined prison sentence of 19 years.

These convictions became an important part of the public record surrounding Ballard’s later life and substantially changed how his name was reported in the media.

Because the offences are serious, responsible coverage should rely on established court outcomes rather than rumours or unverified claims. His earlier entertainment career and later criminal convictions are distinct parts of his biography, and both need to be presented accurately.

The Self-Storage Business and Confiscation Order

Ballard was also connected with a self-storage business established on green-belt land in Bulphan, Essex, in 2014. The business operated without the required planning permission, and an enforcement notice was issued requiring the operation to close and the land to be restored.

In December 2021, Basildon Crown Court ordered Ballard to repay £553,772 in connection with profits from the business and the sale of the property.

The case added another significant chapter to his post-television history and demonstrated the extent to which his later life had moved far away from his earlier career in children’s entertainment.

Paul Ballard’s Legacy in Children’s Television

Paul Ballard’s television career may have lasted only several years, but his work on Diggit left a lasting impression on viewers who grew up with GMTV’s children’s programming.

For those audiences, he remains associated with the energetic style of late-1990s children’s television and with the early career of Fearne Cotton. His appearance on programmes such as The Disney Club and Roadhog, followed by his role on Diggit, represents the most positive and recognizable chapter of his public career.

His later history is considerably darker and has understandably overshadowed his entertainment work in media coverage. Nevertheless, understanding his complete public biography requires acknowledging both periods rather than presenting only one side.

For readers interested in television history, Paul Ballard’s story is also an example of how quickly a familiar television personality can disappear from public view and how dramatically a person’s public identity can change over time.

For anyone exploring unusual celebrity stories, television memories and the lives behind familiar names, The Pure Magazine – Stories Beyond the Ordinary offers a place to discover more fascinating stories and detailed profiles.

FAQs About Paul Ballard

Who is Paul Ballard?

Paul Ballard is a former British television presenter and stage actor who was better known on television as “Des.” He became best known for presenting the children’s programme Diggit.

What was Paul Ballard famous for?

He was primarily known for co-presenting Diggit alongside Fearne Cotton during the programme’s early years. He had also appeared on children’s television programmes including The Disney Club and Roadhog.

When did Paul Ballard present Diggit?

Ballard presented Diggit during its early period, from 1998 until 2002.

Who presented Diggit with Paul Ballard?

Fearne Cotton was one of Ballard’s best-known co-presenters on Diggit. Other presenters were also associated with the programme during its run.

Did Paul Ballard act in theatre?

Yes. Ballard played Smee in a production of Peter Pan at the Central Theatre in Kent in 2001.

What happened to Paul Ballard?

After leaving children’s television, Ballard largely disappeared from mainstream entertainment. His later life became publicly known because of serious criminal convictions and related court proceedings.

How long was Paul Ballard sentenced to prison?

He received a nine-year sentence in 2021 for causing the deaths of two people by dangerous driving, followed later that year by a consecutive 10-year sentence for further offences, making a combined sentence of 19 years.

Is Paul Ballard related to Fearne Cotton?

There is no indication that Ballard and Fearne Cotton were related. Their connection was professional, as they worked together as presenters on Diggit.

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