With 'Morecambe & Wise' falling out of favour with viewers, LWT in a bold move staged a replacement in the shape of 'Cannon & Ball'. Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball ( real names Thomas Derbyshire and Robert Harper ) were a middle of the road Northern double act who originally were to start out on 'Bruce Forsyth' s Big Night Out' but due to overrunning, their sketches were omitted. Michael Grade ( in what was basically a sympathy move ) gave them their own show. They seemed to catch the public's imagination, and soon their catchphrases - "Rock on, Tommy!", "I piggin' hate you, Tommy!" and "You little liar!" were heard all over the place.
Like the earlier 'Little & Large', 'Cannon & Ball' were essentially safe and old fashioned ( not a bad thing ), but had one major flaw - they only had one basic act which was flogged to death. Tommy would wind Bobby up all the time, culminating in Bobby throwing a huge temper tantrum!
Many big names guested on their show such as Michael Robbins, June Whitfield, Peggy Mount, Liza Goddard and Rik Mayall ( surprising considering the stable of comedy he was from was the type that rallied against old school comedians! ). Musical guests included Sarah Brightman, David Essex, Ritz, The Beverly Sisters and Rick Astley.
After their regular series ended in 1988, they moved onto a game show called 'Casino' and then a sitcom for Yorkshire Television entitled 'Plaza Patrol' which cast the two as bumbling security guards. Both shows bombed and that was it for Tommy and Bobby. Their careers were never the same again after this.
I don't hate 'Cannon & Ball' but one cannot get away from the fact that much of the humour has aged badly. Bobby Ball died last year from coronavirus complications.
Like the earlier 'Little & Large', 'Cannon & Ball' were essentially safe and old fashioned ( not a bad thing ), but had one major flaw - they only had one basic act which was flogged to death. Tommy would wind Bobby up all the time, culminating in Bobby throwing a huge temper tantrum!
Many big names guested on their show such as Michael Robbins, June Whitfield, Peggy Mount, Liza Goddard and Rik Mayall ( surprising considering the stable of comedy he was from was the type that rallied against old school comedians! ). Musical guests included Sarah Brightman, David Essex, Ritz, The Beverly Sisters and Rick Astley.
After their regular series ended in 1988, they moved onto a game show called 'Casino' and then a sitcom for Yorkshire Television entitled 'Plaza Patrol' which cast the two as bumbling security guards. Both shows bombed and that was it for Tommy and Bobby. Their careers were never the same again after this.
I don't hate 'Cannon & Ball' but one cannot get away from the fact that much of the humour has aged badly. Bobby Ball died last year from coronavirus complications.