TV Times 31st May 1986

Tommy rides into action

When Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball made their big screen debut as two bungling bobbies in The Boys In Blue (1983) - ITV, Friday - direcotr Val Guest asked Cannon if he could ride a motorbike.

Not wishing to put the mockers on the enterprise before it had got under way, Cannon said that he could. Ball, who knew perfectly well that he could not, suggested a phone call to Bournemouth police station - they were appearing at the Dorset seaside resort in a summer season at the time.

'The police were great', says Cannon. 'They gave me lessons and I learned enough to get by in five days.'

Veteran film director Val Guest was amazed how quickly Cannon and Ball picked up filming.