Tommy Cannon Talks Bobby Ball, Show Business, and His New Project With Robbie Williams!

This week Rob is joined by comic, actor and singer Tommy Cannon. They delve into Tommy's exciting upcoming plans, including a 25-date tour from September and a December pantomime. The pair discuss Tommy's enduring partnership with Bobby Ball, and Tommy reveals his latest collaboration with none other than the iconic Robbie Williams…
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Rob Brydon is best known for his work on The Trip, Gavin & Stacey and presenting the BBC One comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?
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[@jacrawshaw]

What a lovely, lovely man and a shame Bobby is no longer with us. Thanks both for bringing back some fabulous memories.

[@danieladams9950]

Rob brilliant with Tommy. A gracious host.

[@tjchill8634]

I’m a UK Hip Hop artist and I have always LOVED Cannon and Ball. This is an amazing interview that touched my heart! God bless you Tommy! Rock on! ❤🙏🏽

[@Festiv-Col-130]

One of the most inspirational warm-hearted lovable legends to grace the stage and TV screens filling us all with tears of laughter and joy. Thank you Tommy and Rock On.

[@philippepalmer2968]

surely Paul Chuckle should be on your list of future guests,you could even do the famous catchphrase together 😀

[@markemark449]

I wouldn't give it a seconds thought if I read that Rob was to be knighted or made the true prince of Wales, but has he the right to speak the Chuckle Brother's catchphrase? Oh, the responsibility, one thinks of the great classical dilemmas of power and the price of hubris - Icarus, Atlas and Genesis of the Daleks. "Have I that right?"

[@Charlieb82]

Oh dear, oh dear

[@BarnsleyMatchdayDrinkers]

He gone a bit GB Newsy sadly

[@paulwaring3417]

I used to work at the talk of the north in eccles and they were on regular fantastic and I used to go to Blackpool every year and go and see them one year we watched them on the pier and after the show they both came out to announce the pier was on fire everyone was rolling over with laughter no one believed them and thought they were joking until the firemen run past us as we left the pier was in fact on fire underneath the hall they are both legends and allways will be

[@ianworley8169]

I used to see Tommy Ball when I lived in Lytham. Sat in a local café, quietly having a cuppa with his wife, out shopping like the rest of us. Just an ordinary guy in a big flat cap. I never spoke to him out of respect for his privacy, although I wish I'd told him how much I loved Cannon and Ball as a kid. A fabulous, clean and wholesome family comedy duo. Every kid I knew just loved them and knew their catchphrase off by heart. A tragic, terrible loss to covid of a true comic genius.

[@trevorberridge6079]

Another thing we can hold this government accountable for. Their incompetence killed Our Bobby.

[@merlinsclaw]

What a lovely, humble man. Rob, I love you, too. 💙

[@danieladams9950]

Tommy a comedy legend (seemingly without knowing it). Sharp as hell at 85.

[@rambledogs2012]

I was a bit young (single figures young) when they were on the TV but my folks loved them both. Saying that, 'Rock on Tommy' is still imbedded in the far reaches of my memory. 😆

[@daddylongles]

Respect without sycophancy. Rock on “Robbie”! Nice to hear some proper old-school showbiz stuff from Tommy.

[@simonsaysrewind]

Superb... such a great man.

[@BobTheBlue]

Robbie Williams… what a top bloke!

[@uksith]

I absolutely love cannon and ball! Legends forever! Great interview/stream. Thanks

[@typicallondongal]

I really hope I will get to meet Tommy one day as I never got to meet him and Bobby but did get to see them in pantomime and will never forget it xx

[@SimonsShed]

Absolute legend. Saw them in the (mid?) 80s in the Bournemouth BIC when I was.a kid, brilliant.

[@addictedtoresearch]

Terrific. Great to listen to Tommy talk about his history. Lovely man. Rob, as always, is a great interviewer.

[@BusinessButlers]

A lovely guy. His son was born on the same day and approx same time as my son in York District Hospital and we congratulated each other in the corridor.

[@Yewbzee]

I also saw that show in 1984 in Torquay Rob while I was on holiday with my family. It was fantastic and then they came out of the stage door at the back and signed autographs. Legends.

[@frankshailes3205]

Was lovely to see him pop up as the vicar in the wedding episode of Not Going Out.

[@6panel300]

Cannon and Ball had to one of the funniest acts ever on tv. I still laugh just thinking about them. Bobby ball was great in Not going out. Greatly missed. Great interview, you can tell that Tommy is missing Bobby and always will.

[@eyesonly7072]

I couldn’t wait for Saturday nights tv when Cannon & Ball ruled the evening 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@jemwand2530]

What a lovely interview, bless you both.

[@drees71]

I remember seeing Cannon and Ball being mobbed, signing autographs on the Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth in the mid 80's, they were on the top of the mountain!

[@tommyball1863]

When I was a kid, I met Cannon and Ball in Skegness and they were so lovely. They were also very amused by the fact that I had a 50/50 mix of their two names 😂

[@Andyc18]

Saw him last night at Lowther Pavilion in Lytham. He was brilliant. Still got a great singing voice!

[@elleeme9451]

He looks/ sounds really well. The good hearted people always seem to age well. 🎉❤

[@sie4431]

Loved Cannon and Ball as a kid. I even saw their film once. They were huge in the 80's as were, to a lesser extend, Little and Large who also appeared on Opportunity Knocks

[@michaelnaylor-hodgkinson991]

Thoroughly wonderful show. I wept at the welding bit.

[@beverleylocke4207]

I think I also saw cannon and ball in the Bournemouth Pavillon probably in the 1970s. Can that be Right? A hazy but fond memory.

[@cmmooney564]

What I always liked about Cannon and Ball was that they came over like best mates, just having a laugh together; the mutual respect between them was their USP.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Their early TV spots on Wheel Tappers were wonderful!

[@coffeeguy6673]

I grew up watching Cannon & Ball, loved them, good clean family fun and humour. Big fan of Not Going Out and Lee Mack so was so excited to see Bobby playing his feckless Dad in that, sooo funny !! Rob, you are about a year older than me and also a ledge, and I for one am happy to say, thank you so much for this lovely interview with another ledge, Tommy ! Cheers.

[@porkpiepilgrim5302]

I was living in Torquay in 1984 and used to frequent a club called Doodles. This club was owned or run by the same people who owned/ran the Princess Theatre where Canon & Ball had a summer season that year. Anyway, occasionally after a show the stars would end end up at Doodles in the VIP area (a section curtained off). I managed to meet them both there and get some autographs for my future sister in law. They were so gracious, friendly and welcoming. Really lovely people

[@timjay1859]

wow. I love Cannon and Ball. I dream for the return to great comedy buddy teams on British TV and Movies.

[@Srikstar]

We need to see all 3 of you together in this show : Lee, David and You😊❤

[@sharpvidtube]

Good to see Tommy, such a shame we no longer have Bobby with us.

[@mikepowell9326]

So love you Tommy and Bobby saw you both at bormouth in80 or 90 brought your single that's was sold after the show and Bobby forgot his words but he put it right thanks for the memories ❤

[@darendrury6591]

My wife and i were at the LWT recording of the show that Status Quo, were guests among others that night. There was a few retakes had to happen with Tommy and Bobby and the Quo, mostly cos Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt (RIP) were always laughing, A great night we and the audience had.

[@ChillToMusic87]

Great interview Rob 👌🏼 Thank you.

[@andypalin3287]

Wonderful story! Thanks for another great episode Rob! 😀

[@stuartryan610]

I saw their Boys in Blue film in the little theatre Rhyl. I also had the Cannon and Ball annual from 1983. I also liked Tommy and Bobby appearing in last of the summer wine. Very funny. Thank you for the laughs. Always clean, always funny 👍

[@gostopstopgo]

Lovely lad Tommy . Good hair Brydon.

[@layalabi1667]

Thank you!!

[@angelkotilainen]

20:45 wow it's a small world, I used to work FOH at the New Theatre! Saw every show going, best job I ever had entertainment wise. Just ripped tickets in half, then sat and watched umpteen shows. While getting paid. Got some crazy stories that happened there, such as Jason Donovan finding out his gf was pregnant and he fell off the stage and broke his leg. Another actor burnt his backside on real candles around the stage, as he danced in a kilt. Arrived at work to find him bent over the stage door lady's lap having cream applied. Could go on all day about things happened there. Good times! Never knew Rob worked there previously. No-one mentioned it. I still remember the code to the Richard Burton room lol Not hard if you know much about Richard.

[@jonetrance4495]

ROCK ON TOM!

[@johnfarnborough6424]

On holiday in 1980 at the same hotel as Bobby. Lovely man, totally down to earth. At the height of his fame, but had time to speak to everyone who wanted a chat.

[@lifeschool]

Hats off to you guys for interviewing the great Tommy Ball. Perhaps the last of the 'funny men'. There was something magical about the duo, and I saw them a few times. Sometimes their shows were completely off the cuff, so it was like improv before they even invented the word. Rock on Tommy. Certainly better without the barbara walters marriage guidance this week.

[@anenglishmaninmalaga]

Legends 😊

[@jakegodfrey4320]

I'd love to see you speak to Paul Chuckle.

[@valley_robot]

You've got me skin, you've got me skin!!!!

[@ThomasDoubting5]

They was everywhere wasn't they , comedy behemoths.

[@trevorberridge6079]

[25:00] Totall agree with Tommy. I believe there are certain points in your life that were always meant to happen. And no matter what path you take you will always end up at that point. Bobby and Tommy's story proves that. From "Hiya Cock!" at a welding job to "Rock on Tommy!" at The Wheel Tappers and Shunters Social Club to getting their own show to becoming actors. However much you think your path lies is in another direction Fate will always pull you back in line with your Destiny.

[@trippymchippy8586]

Next week, Chip and Pin.

[@Isleofskye]

Hope and Keen surely followed by Hale and Pace..

[@Czechbound]

They were kinda like the Ant and Dec of their day. But with comedy and singing chops.

[@Isleofskye]

But with talent.

[@MrWayout74]

Royton royalty

[@BillOdyssey]

Ohh please say it's UFO hunting with Robbie n' Tommy...

[@johng7423]

Hes good Tommy but tell him to be careful talking to Robbie if he has any songs he wrote hime self theyll end up on Robbies next album just ask Ray Heffernan

[@TheTommygee37]

Sorry, I have to say it. First

[@davidevans3227]

Had to stop watching and have a look at a clip to remind myself 🙂 and top of the list was two minutes from opportunity knocks.. ur laughin now!

[@danielb4848]

Doh

[@markhooper4532]

Winnie Wallace...... Tommy talking about their fall out was very diluted.. I understood they didn't speak for a couple of years.Bit pathetic when you think about it.

[@Screamifyoumeanit]

Lose the entourage! Or pick them yourself.

[@Thegdee]

Seriously ,Cannon & Ball were never funny, never in the same ballpark as Morecombe & Wise, or even The Two Ronnies, at best they were Blackpool Summer Season.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Maybe so, but they had a prime time ITV Saturday night show for 10 years - so they must have done something right!

[@HAIRYBIKER777]

They weren't trying to be the 2Rs or M&W though, so you can't say they weren't as good. They had a simpler act... just slapstick really, but plenty of people loved them. It's like the "best guitarist" argument... there is no best, there is only "favourite" and if they're not for you then fine, but there's no need to knock them.

[@antony3378]

I've just watched the whole thing,Jesus Christ !

[@antony3378]

Barrel bottom scraping comes to mind.

[@markemark449]

I saw them in panto decades ago and I'm sure every line of dialogue they did was truly awful, and every visual gag was old and predictable, but they had the whole packed audience in stitches for the whole show, myself included. Was it their timing? Their unrelenting commitment to seeming to take things seriously despite the obvious silliness? I can't explain why they were so funny, but I saw it first-hand. Put the subpar TV appearances out of mind, when they were live and on form they were legends.

[@antony3378]

@@markemark449 A very reasoned and intelligent reply to my snidey comment,thank you, food for thought.

[@cho317]

and a sensible reply to the reply..Nice.. so unlike the internet😊

[@markemark449]

@@cho317 People commenting nicely and sensibly on the internet? I think we've finally proven it's possible! Amazing :)

[@simonhodgetts6530]

A very nice exchange! There was a reason why Cannon & Ball had a prime time TV show for nearly 10 years!