ITV pays tribute to Bobby Ball

UK broadcaster ITV has commissioned a tribute show to celebrate the life and career of  British comedian and actor Bobby Ball, who died last week.

Bobby Ball

Produced by Leeds-based Wise Owl Films, Rock on, Tommy: The Bobby Ball Story will document the life and work of the performer, from his career as one half of double act Cannon & Ball to his roles in series like Benidorm and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.

The other half of Cannon & Ball, Tommy Cannon, will narrate the 30-minute documentary.

Wise Owl Films’ creative director and executive Producer Mark Robinson said: “Bobby Ball’s TV career spanned an incredible seven decades. Some viewers still fondly remember classic moments from the 1970s and 80s when Bobby brought a new type of comedy to our screens, alongside Tommy.

“A new generation might know him better as a fine actor, in shows like Not Going Out and Mount Pleasant. Bobby’s story is an incredible one and we’re honoured to have been asked to make this tribute to one of Britain’s most loved and most versatile entertainers.”

In related news, ITV has ordered a one-off extended Christmas special of classic British comedy series Birds of a Feather.

Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, Birds of a Feather originally aired on BBC1 between 1989 and 1998, before being revived on ITV from 2014 to 2017.

The one-off Christmas special will be written by show creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, with Gary Lawson and John Phelps. It will be produced by Fremantle’s UK scripted comedy label Hare & Tortoise, with the prodco’s MD, Jon Rolph, exec producing.