Pal Bobb y ’s still beside me
Tommy opens up about life after his comedy partner of six decades died
TOMMY Cannon is hoping to take a show on tour about his life with Bobby Ball and says he can “still feel him standing by my side”.
The 83-year-old comedian has opened up about life without his comedy pal of six decades and the late star’s final days.
It is one of his first in-depth interviews since Bobby died in October 2020 aged 76, after testing positive for Covid.
Tommy said: “Even now, I can feel him. I can feel him stood at the side of me here saying, ‘Go on, Tommy, lad. You can do it.’ I’ve got some of Bobby’s ashes outside in the hallway and every morning I get up and touch the box and say, ‘All right, pal.’
“He’s up there now with a lot of famous people. I think he’ll be having a great time.”
Tommy said the show, which he is working on with Bobby’s sons, Rob and Darren, would be the first time he has toured since being half of Cannon and Ball. He said: “I’m going to be interviewed by a guy and tell the world about our story together. Our ups, our downs, the daft things Bob did and I did.
“Then I’m going to ask the audience if they want to ask any questions. I want it to be a tribute, but I also want it to be a celebration.” Shortly before his death, Bobby had played a show with Tommy in Blackpool, and said he was “not feeling too special”. Speaking on The God Cast podcast, Tommy said: “I couldn’t visit him in hospital... 10 days later he passed away. I felt like I’d had my right arm taken off.” He added he and Bobby’s wife Yvonne will unveil a statue of him in Lytham St Annes, Lancs, in July.