Comedy legends Cannon and Ball coming to Wirral next month for Age Concern fundraiser

Jan 19 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

CANNON and Ball are keeping it in the family for their show in Wirral next month.

The veteran comedians are bringing their legendary sense of fun to the Floral Pavilion Theatre on Sunday, February 13 for a fundraising show in aid of Age Concern Wirral.

They will be joined on stage by another dynamic duo – Bobby’s sons Rob and Darren, who perform as comedy act The Harper Brothers.

Harper is Bobby’s real surname and the name also comes from one of Cannon and Ball’s first incarnations.

When Day and Night spoke to Bobby the 66-year-old was in Lincoln, where he and Tommy have just finished playing Chinese Policemen in the city’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin.

Although Oldham-born Cannon and Ball haven’t had their own TV show since the early 90s, they have never stopped working and still tour for most of the year with their own comedy shows and summer seasons.

Bobby said: “We’re looking forward to coming to New Brighton.

“It’s a good cause is Age Concern – I’m getting there myself!

The proud father added: “My sons have been a comedy duo for a long time and they’re a good act.

“They started off in bands doing their own thing then comedy took over and they’ve got their own sketches and characters. It must be in the genes.

“If you look at me and Tommy, we had a reputation in the clubs and theatres before we got on TV so that’s what the lads do. They have their own little crowd that follows them.”

Cannon and Ball appeared on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2005 but Bobby says their first venture into reality TV was also his last.

He said: “I did it for the adventure and the money, to be honest, but I wouldn’t go in any of the others.

“I like comedy acting and I’m doing some on TV soon, but I can’t say any more about it yet.