How Bobby Ball came from nothing to become one of UK's greatest comedy stars
After the huge success of The Cannon and Ball Show Bobby Ball lived the high life with flash cars, boats and holiday homes, but he came from humble beginnings
Bobby Ball has died at the age of 76 after testing positive for coronavirus, his family have said.
The comedian, who was one half of duo Cannon & Ball, enjoyed a career that spanned over five decades.
But the telly legend had humble beginnings and worked as a welder in Oldham, Lancashire, when he first met his comedy partner Tommy Cannon in the sixties.
Tommy told the Independent in 2006: "We first met in a welding factory in Oldham.
"He was the first person who spoke to me out of 500 men - he came in late for work and said, 'Hiya, mate.'
"Maybe he felt sorry for me."
Bobby said in the same interview: "I met Tommy at work. It's like with anything else, when you start a new job, it's daunting.
"I was always late, so when I came in I said, 'How are you, c**k?' I suppose he felt relieved."
The duo struck up a friendship and Bobby invited Tommy to join him singing at the working men's clubs he performed at on weekends.
Ball married his first wife Joan in 1964 and they had two sons Robert and Darren.
In the sixties Bobby and Tommy performed in working men's clubs to catch their big break.
He married his second wife Yvonne in 1971 and they had a daughter called Joanne.
They went on Opportunity Knocks but they came last and performed in clubs for 15 years before their careers took off.
In 1979 they got their own series The Cannon and Ball Show which ran until 1988.
The show attracted audiences of 20million, which afforded them a lavish lifestyle.
The duo bought matching Rolls-Royces, holiday homes in the Canary Islands, and cabin cruisers.
Bobby said: "We climbed to the top of the tree and wore the T-shirt.
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"There were so many golden moments – meeting The Queen, befriending my hero Eric Clapton and being the subject of a This Is Your Life show.
"There was a party every night and I made big money. We spent it on flash cars, a holiday home in Gran Canaria and a 42ft cabin cruiser.
"I'd never skippered in my life – the first time we took the boat out to sea, Yvonne shouted to me, 'Can you slow down? The TV has fallen off the ledge.'
"I replied, 'We’re in a Force 12 storm, love!' We had to call the coastguard, but it was fun."
Bobby stayed in the limelight after the end of The Cannon and Ball Show.
From 2005 to 2008, he played Lenny in the BBC series Last of the Summer Wine.
In 2005 he starred in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! with Tommy and was voted out sixth.
The in 2009, he was cast as Frank in BBC One Sitcom Not Going Out with Lee Mack.
On Monday his family confirmed his passing in a statement from his manager.
The statement said: ""It is with great personal sadness that on behalf of Yvonne Ball, and the family, and Tommy Cannon, I announce that Bobby Ball passed away at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on the 28th October 2020 approximately 21:30.
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