Tears for Oldham TV comedy legend Tommy after huge sentimental find

Oldham TV comedy legend Tommy Cannon was brought to tears as he discovered a precious personal find that he thought had been lost forever.

Tommy, part of the hugely successful TV comedy duo Cannon and Ball, who consistently attracted 20 million viewers to their prime-time Saturday night TV show across a ten-year period, came across the sentimental find recently when work was being carried out on his home near York.

The Cannon and Ball Show first appeared across the ITV network from 1978 and it featured sketches, music and a host of the biggest names from the world of show business that would jet in from all corners of the globe to be part of the fun with the pair.

When the hugely successful series ended in 1988, the comedy pair were presented with compilation memory albums reflecting the memorable TV decade at a special ITV tribute dinner in the West End of London.

The album was somehow lost over time and had been a constant thought in the mind of Tommy – until it was recently unearthed.

Tommy’s partner for almost 60 years, Bobby Ball, sadly passed way almost four years ago after contracting coronavirus.

Tommy is set to head out on his very first solo UK theatre tour at the age of 86 this October and November -  to recall the fascinating journey of Tommy and Bobby together.

Tommy said: “The photo album and words inside meant so much to myself and Bobby and I can’t tell you the mix of emotions myself, wife Hazel and the family have gone through since it turned up, buried somehow in the corner of the loft as we were having work done on the home.

"The loss had caused lots of frustration and pain for years as it is probably the most special part of our career that documents our amazing journey together.

“We all sat around at home to take it all in, with tears flowing as we recalled so many magical times being with Bobby and as we turned each page there were a host of the biggest names in show business on our very own TV show and a massive 20 million viewers being part of it through a glorious decade. 

“The saddest part was seeing some photos of our very final rehearsal day at London Weekend Television and also our final wave to the camera – saying goodbye to millions of viewers at the end of the decade.

"It was one of those visions that will stay with me forever.

"I went back in my dressing room that Saturday night and broke my heart as it had become part of our existence,” said Tommy.

The programme was such a success that the biggest names in the world of show business were lining up and had their agents hustling to be part of it.

The list included Dusty Springfield, Cliff Richard, Motown giants The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Little Richard, Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell, Bruce Forsyth, Jimmy Tarbuck, Eric Sykes and so many more greats.

Tommy added: “Bobby and I would regularly make calls to one another to verify that this was all really happening.

"I still remember his call telling me that one of his all-time rock and roll heroes, Little Richard, had said that he wanted to head over from America to be on our programme.

“I distinctly remember that we talked at length about our journey from two working class lads that had bumped into each other when working as welders in Oldham.

"We both really couldn’t believe what was happening and we would often spend hours chatting through the characters we worked with on the factory floor in the factory days.

“The album is an endless stream of the very biggest names, and I will for sure be highlighting it on my first solo tour that starts in October.

“Our great friend Eric Sykes is pictured in the album, and he was part of the ‘Boys in Blue’ film that took us from the small screen to the big one in cinemas in 1982.

“Dusty Springfield was truly wonderful on the show, joining in with the sketches and along with the likes of Cliff, Frankie Laine, The Bee Gees, and The Four Tops she was starring on the world stage as myself and Bobby were starting our journey in the local pubs and clubs.

"It still takes some believing looking back through the hugely sentimental album – I can tell you for sure that it won’t be misplaced again.

"We were a couple of welders earning twenty quid a week as these stars were major headliners.

"The saddest photo is the final wave goodbye to the ITV cameras – you can almost see the tears in my eyes welling up.

“It will be forever in the family heritage and history to be passed down through the proceeding years.

"The only thing that would have made it even more special would have been to be able to turn the pages with Bobby in 2024 and to relive the times we shared together with those huge worldwide stars and the millions of TV viewers across the UK. 

“I know for a fact that Bobby would be urging me on and to drive forward with the up-and-coming theatre tour and I’m really excited about it. 

"Our TV theme ‘Together we’ll be OK’ will be part of it so that really will set my emotions away again,” said Tommy.

Tommy is stopping off at Middleton Arena Manchester on Friday, October 18 (7:30pm) with a full supporting show.

Tickets are available here via this link.

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