The Cannon and Ball Show

The Cannon and Ball Show was a successful comedy variety show on ITV featuring the double act comprising Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball.[1]

The Cannon and Ball Show
GenreSketch comedy
StarringTommy Cannon
Bobby Ball
Voices ofRobin Houston
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series9
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companyLWT
DistributorITV Studios
Release
Original networkITV
Original release28 July 1979 (1979-07-28) –
24 December 1988 (1988-12-24)

The pair were booked to perform on seven episodes of Bruce Forsyth's Big Night, but not all of their segments were screened, as producers were trying to shore up ratings and decided to give Forsyth more air time instead.[2] During this time, LWT's then director of programmes Michael Grade watched the dropped clips and decided to give the pair their own television series.[3]

Cannon & Ball's first regular television series was filmed by LWT and lasted nine years, until December 1988.[4]

After the series ended, the pair went on to Cannon and Ball's Casino, a Saturday-night game show for Yorkshire Television in the early 1990s, and Plaza Patrol, also for Yorkshire Television.

Transmission details
  • Series One: 6 episodes: 28 July & 4 Aug 1979; 26 Oct-16 Nov 1979
  • Series Two: 7 episodes: 11 April – 23 May 1980
  • Series Three: 6 episodes: 25 April – 30 May 1981
  • Series Four: 6 episodes: 8 May-12 June 1982
  • Series Five: 6 episodes: 3 Dec 1983 – 21 Jan 1984
  • Series Six: 6 episodes: 13 October – 17 Nov 1984
  • Series Seven: 6 episodes 26 April – 31 May 1986
  • Series Eight: 6 episodes 10 January – 14 Feb 1987
  • Series Nine: 6 episodes: 28 May – 2 July 1988

Specials
  • Christmas Special: Saturday 20 December 1980
  • Cannon and Ball at Drury Lane: Saturday 2 January 1982
  • Easter Special: Saturday 2 April 1983
  • Christmas Cannon and Ball: Saturday 21 December 1985
  • Christmas Special Saturday 27 December 1986
  • The Cannon and Ball Show Special – 2 Jan 1988
  • Christmas Special: Saturday 24 December 1988: This special was made by Yorkshire Television

References
  1. "Cannon And Ball Shoot Towards A Bullet Success ". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  2. "Cannon and Ball - TV Appearances - Bruce Forsyths Big Night". Comedykings.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  3. Tony Padman. "Whatever happend [sic] to Cannon and Ball?". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  4. "BBC - Comedy Guide - Cannon And Ball". Archived from the original on 9 December 2004. Retrieved 4 September 2013.


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