Comedy Kings

The original and best-known TV show, featuring stand-up comedy, pre-recorded sketches and numerous special guests. Ran between 1979 and 1988.

Directed by Baz Taylor

Guest Photos

Bruce Forsyth	Steve Davis
Frank Bruno	Lulu

Show dates

Series 1

Episode 1 - Sat 28th July 1979, 8pm With guest stars Liza Goddard, Michael Robbins and Chris Cregan Publicity picture shows Tommy Cannon, Caroline Argyle, Bobby Ball and Liza Goddard

Episode 2 - Sat 4th August 1979, 8pm
With guest stars Maureen Lipman, Diana Weston and Sydney Tafler.

Episode 3 - Sat 26th October 1979, 8:30pm

Episode 4 - Sat 2nd November 1979, 8:30pm

Episode 5 - Sat 9th November 1979, 8:30pm

Episode 6 - Sat 16th November 1979, 8:30pm.
With actress Irene Handl.

Series 2

Episode 1 - Fri 11th April 1980, 7:30pm
With special guest Diana Dors, and house band Ritz

Episode 2 - Fri 18th April 1980, 7:30pm

Episode 3 - Fri 25th April 1980, 7:30pm
With guest Peggy Mount.

Episode 4 - Fri 2nd May 1980, 7:30pm
With guests Elizabeth Estensen and Naggie Henderson

Episode 5 - Fri 9th May 1980, 7:30pm

Episode 6 - Fri 16th May 1980, 7:30pm

Episode 7 - Fri 23th May 1980, 7:30pm

Christmas Special

Cannon and Ball for Christmas - 6pm Saturday 20th December 1980, 45 minutes With guest Faith Brown

Publicity picture for the show

Series 3

Episode 1 - Sat 25th April 1981, 7:35pm
With guests Jeep, Dai Francis and John Boulter.

Episode 2 - Sat 2nd May 1981, 7:35pm
With guest Anne Murray

Episode 3 - Sat 9th May 1981, 7:35pm

Episode 4 - Sat 16th May 1981, 7:35pm
With guest Alan Price

Episode 5 - Sat 23th May 1981, 7:35pm
With singing group Ritz, music provided by Alyn Ainsworth and his Orchestra.

Episode 6 - Sat 30th May 1981, 7:35pm

Christmas Special

Cannon and Ball at Drury Lane - 7pm Saturday 2nd January 1982, ? minutes

Series 4

Episode 1 - Sat 8th May 1982, 7:15pm
With Iris Williams and Steve Davis

Episode 2 - Sat 15th May 1982, 7:15pm

Episode 3 - Sat 22nd May 1982, 7:15pm
With guest Bruce Forsyth

Episode 4 - Sat 29th May 1982, 7:15pm
With guest Adam Ant performing "Goody Goody Two Shoes".

Episode 5 - Sat 5th June 1982, 7:15pm
With guests Frankie Laine and Suzanne Danielle

Episode 6 - Sat 12th June 1982, 7:15pm
With guest Leo Sayer

Compilation...

The Best of Cannon and Ball - 11th December 1982, ? minutes

Easter Special

The Cannon and Ball Easter Show - 8:15pm Saturday 2nd April 1983, 60 minutes With guests include Eric Sykes, Jill Gascoigne and Mary Wilson

Series 5

Episode 1 - Sat 3rd December 1983, 7pm
With guests Cliff Richard and Windsor Davies

Episode 2 - Sat 10th December 1983, 7pm
With guests Herb Reed, Stacey Dorning and Status Quo performing "Marguerita Time".

Episode 3 - Sat 17th December 1983, 7pm
With guests Shakin' Stevens Jocky Wilson and Sarah Brightman

Episode 4 - Sat 7th January 1984, 7pm
With guests The Three Degrees, Una Stubbs, and Roger Whittaker who performs "I'm Back".

Episode 5 - Sat 14th January 1984, 7pm
With guests Grace Kennedy, Diana Dors and Robin Gibb

Episode 6 - Sat 21th January 1984, 7pm
With guests The Four Tops, Peter Saint, Jeffrey Holland and Musical Youth.

Series 6

Episode 1 - Sat 13th October 1984, 7pm
With guests Englebert Humperdink, The Beverley Sisters and Alec Bregonzi.

Episode 2 - Sat 20th October 1984, 7pm
With guests Guy Mitchell, Sister Sledge and Big Country.

Episode 3 - Sat 27th October 1984, 7pm
With guests Paul young and Richard Clayderman

Episode 4 - Sat 3rd November 1984, 7pm
With guest Rik Mayall

Episode 5 - Sat 10th November 1984, 7pm
With guests Brook Benton, Chas and Dave, Shakatak and Michael Sheard.

Episode 6 - Sat 17th November 1984, 7pm
With guests Jimmy Tarbuck, Henry Cooper and The flying Pickets.

Compilation...

The Best of Cannon and Ball - 7th April 1985, ? minutes

Christmas Special

Christmas Cannon and Ball - 7:45pm Saturday 21st December 1985, ? minutes
With guests Paul Nicholas and Ruth Madoc.

Series 7 - 8

Series 7 and 8 were different styles of the show, with the duo in a sit-com sharing a flat. You can see details here.

Christmas Special

Cannon and Ball Special - 6:30pm Saturday 27th December 1986, ? minutes
With guests Kim Wilde, Little Richard and Kate O'Mara.

Christmas Special

The Cannon and Ball Show Special - 2nd Jan 1988, ? minutes
With guests David Essex, Dennis Quilley and Rick Astley singing 'When I Fall in Love'.

Series 9

Episode 1 - Sat 28th May 1988, 7pm
With guests Kenny Lynch and Marti Caine.

Episode 2 - Sat 4th June 1988, 7pm
With guests Gloria Hunniford and Russell Grant

Episode 3 - Sat 11th June 1988, 7pm
With guests Sabrina, Kate O'Mara and Eddie 'the eagle' Edwards.

Episode 4 - Sat 18th June 1988, 7pm
With guests Aswad, Marti Caine and Hilary O'Neil.

Episode 5 - Sat 25th June 1988, 7pm
Wit guests Maxi Priest and Lulu.

Episode 6 - Sat 2nd July 1988, 7pm
with guests Nigel Benn, Sandra Dickinson and Glen Madeiros.

Christmas Special

The Cannon and Ball Show - 5:15pm Saturday 24th December 1988, ? minutes
Cannon and Ball sing "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" and "I've Had The Time Of My Life".
With guests the Brian Rogers Dancers, Nosher Powell, Linda Lusardi, Denis Waterman, Chris De Burgh singing "Tender Hands", Brother Beyond singing "Be My Twin", Kim Wilde singing "Four Letter Word".
Includes Lounge Sketch with Rosie McClure and Toni Contay. Cinema sketch with Chris Collins, Brian Rogers and Terry Knowles.
Producer/Director - Graham Wetherell. Writers - Barry Cryer, Eddie Braben, Brian Blackburn, Paul Minett, Brian Leveson, Rob Grant, Doug Naylor, Peter Vincent.

Highlights

Some of the highlights of the show are included on the 25 years of comedy video.