Cannon and Ball are an English comedy double act consisting of Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball. The duo met in the early 1960s while working as welders in Oldham and began working the pubs and clubs of Lancashire. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A comedy is a dramatic performance of a light and amusing character, usually with a happy conclusion to its plot. ... This article is about the comedy duo. ... Tommy Derbyshire (b. ... This article is about the English comedian. ... For the larger local government district, see Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ...

Their first major TV appearance was in 1978 with a cameo slot in Bruce Forsyths Big Night on ITV. They were offered their own series, The Cannon and Ball Show which premiered in ITV on Saturday 28 July 1979. Further series followed each year through to 1988, along with Christmas and Easter specials. Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1982 they appeared in a feature film, The Boys in Blue,^[1] based loosely on the classic Will Hay film, Ask a Policeman ^[2]. The Boys in Blue was regarded critically as weak in comparison and was their only cinema outing. It was re-released on DVD in 2004. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... A reel of film, which predates digital cinematography. ... A publicity shot for the film The Ghost of St. ... Ask a Policeman is a 1939 British comedy film starring Will Hay. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In recent years they have admitted that, during their hey-day of huge popularity in the 1980s, they were barely on speaking terms and would avoid each other completely when not on stage or rehearsing. These tensions - which lasted for years - were later resolved and the two are now extremely close once again.

By the 1990s the duo were seeking a change in direction and appeared in their own sitcom Cannon and Balls Playhouse, the spin-off series Plaza Patrol and their game show Cannon and Ball's Casino. Plaza Patrol saw them play security guards in a shopping mall. Despite relatively high viewing figures for a midweek sitcom no further series were produced.

Their popularity coincided with the rise of so-called alternative comedy, with its emphasis on more socially relevant and political concerns, and as time passed Cannon and Ball fell in popularity, though they were not the only comedy act to suffer as the comic tastes of the nation shifted. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In more recent times they have continued to find success as a comic duo in theatre and pantomime, along with numerous cameo appearances on TV. In 2005 they appeared in the British reality TV series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. For other uses, see Pantomime (disambiguation). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Reality television is a genre of television programming in which the fortunes of real life people (as opposed to fictional characters played by actors) are followed. ... Im a Celebrity. ...

In 2008 the pair's runaway success continued as they appeared again on TV as the faces of Safestyle UK, a Bradford based double glazing firm. For other uses, see Bradford (disambiguation). ...

The pair are devout Christians and have published a book called Christianity for Beginners. Bobby Ball became a born-again Christian in 1986 and Tommy Cannon in 1992, their conversion having a lot to do with the re-kindling of their broken friendship. They now regularly feature in their own gospel and "an audience with..." show in churches around the country. For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

Catchphrases:- "Rock on Tommy", "You little liar", "I piggin' hate you, Tommy". A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ...

References

External links

• Official Cannon and Ball website — requires Flash
• Comedykings - The unofficial Cannon and Ball website