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The Cannon and Ball Show

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The Cannon and Ball Show
GenreSketch comedy
Starring
Voices ofRobin Houston
Theme music composerNigel Hess
Opening theme"Together We'll Be OK"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series9
No. of episodes64 (inc. 9 specials)
Production
Running time30–60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companiesLWT (1979-88)
Yorkshire Television (1988 Christmas Special)
Original release
NetworkITV
Release28 July 1979 (1979-07-28) –
24 December 1988 (1988-12-24)

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 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 1990, and Plaza Patrol, also for Yorkshire Television.

Transmissions

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Series Start date End date Episodes
1 28 July 1979 16 November 1979 6
2 11 April 1980 23 May 1980 7
3 25 April 1981 30 May 1981 6
4 8 May 1982 12 June 1982 6
5 3 December 1983 21 January 1984 6
6 13 October 1984 17 November 1984 6
7 26 April 1986 31 May 1986 6
8 10 January 1987 14 February 1987 6
9 28 May 1988 2 July 1988 6

Specials

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Date Entitle
20 December 1980 Christmas Special
2 January 1982 Cannon & Ball at Drury Lane
11 December 1982 The Best of Cannon & Ball
2 April 1983 Easter Special
7 April 1985 The Best of Cannon & Ball
21 December 1985 Christmas Special
27 December 1986 Christmas Special
2 January 1988 The Cannon & Ball Special
24 December 1988 Christmas Special

References

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  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 (17 August 2013). "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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