A single series of nine programmes, each 45 minutes long and shown on Saturday nights. They were aired between 19th May and 25th August 1990.
It was styled as a game show where three couples competed against each other. Rounds included the Fruit Machine, where whichever symbols lined up indicated what the prize was going be. In between the rounds Cannon and Ball did some stand-up comedy, or a special guest performed.
Producer/Director – Graham Wetherell
Writers – Robert Lewis, Louis Robinson and Bryan Blackburn.
Pilot – Never aired
With guests impressionist George Marshall and singer Tricia Dusky.
Episode 1 – 19th May 1990
With guests Roxette singing It Must Have Been Love, Big Country signing Save Me, and comedian Paul Squire.
Episode 2 – 26th May 1990
With guests Halo James singing Magic Hour, Dusty Springfield singing Reputation, and magician Paul Zenon.
Episode 3 – 2nd June 1990
With guests Paul Young singing Softly Whispering, Fuzzbox singing Your Loss My Gain, and stand-up comedian Rob Newman.
Episode 4 – 9th June 1990
With guests Beloved singing Time After Time, Indecent Obsession singing Say Goodbye, and comedian Bradley Walsh.
Episode 5 – 16th June 1990
With guests The London Boys singing Chapel Of Love, Kim Wilde singing Time and comedian Chris Luby.
Episode 6 – 23rd June 1990
With guests River City People singing California Dreaming, Tanita Tikaram singing Thursday’s Child and comedian Mick Miller.
Episode 7 – 30th June 1990
With guests Big Fun, Elkie Brooks and impressionist George Marshall.
Episode 8 – 7th July 1990
With guests Gilbert O’Sullivan singing Very Mention of Your Name, Jesus Jones singing Info Freako and magician John Lenehan.
Episode 9 – 14th July 1990
With guests Leo Sayer singing The Cool Touch, Hothouse Flowers singing I Can See Clearly Now and comedian Mike Osman.
TV Times article
Article about the show, TV Times 19th May 1990
Promotional Brochure
To mark the launch of the series, Yorkshire Television produced a press release in a promotional brochure:
Press release
Cannon and Ball’s Casino
ITV Network Saturdays from 19th May 1990
CANNON & BALL return to television with a brand new series of family entertainment for Saturday nights on ITV. The first show in CANNON & BALL’S CASINO can be seen across the network on 19 May at 6.10 pm.
There’s a warm welcome for everyone when Britain’s best loved double act open up the doors of the casino. Each of the nine 45 minute shows is packed with fun, laughs, big prizes, guest appearances and the inimitable blend of comedy that is Cannon & Ball.
Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball have been making British audiences laugh for more than twenty years and, though they have been away from our TV screens for almost eighteen months, they have never been out of the spotlight – continuously performing live before audiences the length and breadth of the country.
“The ‘Casino’ is something completely new for us.” says Tommy. “We felt that it was time to try something different and this show seems to have something for everyone.”
“We’ve had lots of fun making the shows and hope that the viewers will enjoy them too.” added Bobby.
At the Casino the chips are never down as each week three pairs of contestants play to win a big cash sum of £4,000, a deluxe motor car or the holiday of a lifetime. The three part game also gives each couple the chance to amass cash sums by correctly answering questions on a variety of topics which the ‘video wall’ selects at random.
Along the way several bonus prizes are also on offer. Through a process of elimination the couple with the biggest cash winnings has the chance to ‘crack the safe’ by giving accurate responses to five questions in sixty seconds. If successful, the couple then takes home the big prize of their choice.
Over the coming weeks star names from the worlds of pop music, variety and entertainment dropping in at CANNON & BALL’S CASINO include Leo Sayer, Paul Young, Dusty Springfield, Elkie Brooks, Kim Wilde, Mick Miller, Fuzz Box, and Tanita Tikaram.
The first show features comedian Paul Squire, Swedish singing duo Roxette and Scottish band Big Country.
Don’t miss out – make a date to join Cannon & Ball for their weekly beano down at the Casino.
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Writers ……………………. Bryan Blackburn
……………………. Richard Lewis
……………………. Louis Robinson
Design …………………….. Andrew Sanderson
Lighting …………………… Peter Hardman
Producer/Director …………… Graham Wetherell
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Press Liaison: Shanti K. Bhatia
Tel: 0532 438283.
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