Bobby's swanning around for laughs

Sep 20 2004 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TWO of Britain's best-known comics are taking a sip of Summer Wine.

Cannon and Ball are the latest celebrities to be in Last Of The Summer Wine, the world's longest-running comedy series.

Bobby Ball, 60, is to star as The Swan Man of Ilkley in what is likely to be the first programme in the new TV series, due out early next year.

And sidekick Tommy Cannon, with whom he has appeared for 38 years, will have a cameo role.

Both were in the Huddersfield area to film, taking part in scenes in Holmfirth and Meltham.

The new series will run for 10 episodes and include a Christmas special.

That has already been filmed and stars Sir Norman Wisdom, making another appearance in the show.

Alan J W Bell, the show's producer and director, said everyone was delighted that Cannon and Ball had joined the cast.

"We have had a great time filming the show over the past few days. Everything seems to have gone really well.

"People always appreciate us filming in the area and a lot of people are very welcoming.

"The terrible weather we have had this summer has not hindered us too much. We lost one day in August because of the rain, but we have managed to re-schedule."

The new series will again feature the regulars, including Peter Salis, Frank Thornton, Tom Owen, Keith Clifford and Brian Murphy.

* Cannon and Ball have been together for 38 years

* The pair have had stage, TV and film careers, including a television series which ran for 12 years

* Their move into films was with Boys in Blue

* Tommy Cannon was born Thomas Derby- shire in Oldham in 1938

* Bobby Ball was born Robert Harper in Oldham, in January, 1944.