Bobby Ball

Bobby Ball

English comedian

Moustache type: Dancing slugs

Born: 28 1 1944 (Oldham, Lancashire, England)


Bobby Ball was born Robert Harper, but changed his name to Ball when he formed the comedy double act Cannon and Ball with Tommy Cannon, who was born Thomas Derbyshire. Ball has possibly the worst moustache in this catalogue; it being untidy, scraggly and asymmetrical.

Cannon and Ball’s popularity reached its apex in the 1980s when they were the highest paid comedians on British TV, earning £50,000 per week each. They had once been £20-a-week welders. But their ‘traditional’ style of comedy was eclipsed as the decade ended with the rise of alternative comedians. Nowadays Cannon and Ball are stars of the pantomime circuit, still have a popular stage show and are evangelical born again Christians.

Tommy, the straight man, said Bobby was a natural choice as the funny man: “He just walks onto the stage and everybody laughs. Either you have it or you don’t.” Perhaps Tommy was also talking about Bobby’s sex appeal. Ball says he has bedded more female fans than he could count. This for a man who is just 5’4”, fat, and who has had a perm for much of his career. Even a bad moustache can work wonders it seems.