Seeing double

The UK's longest-serving double act admit first of all that they'd assumed that this year's panto at Darlington's Civic Theatre was number 20 or 24.

But in the excitement of approaching new box office records, the two talk instead about their love for the North-East which has been created by years of love and laughter in the region's clubs.

Bobby met his wife, Yvonne, at Stockton when the former Oldham factory mates were forging a career as bottom of the bill comics

He says: "My wife's from Stockton and she worked at the Fiesta Nightclub and that's where we met 30 years ago."

Yvonne actually caught his eye because she was a Fiesta Fawn and had a short mini-skirt on and "that did it in those days. It was one of the best nightclubs. They used to book massive stars in those days like Dave Allen and we went along as the support act. They could afford the stars that appeared on television."

Tommy chimes in: "We've performed there at the bottom of the bill and we've performed there at the top."

But Bobby continues: "My wife had these boots on with high heels and made her look about 5ft 10inches and I asked if I could take her out and she said 'I don't go out with little men'."

But she did and the pair also remember a club next to Darlington's Civic Theatre called The Flamingo where they used to go themselves to watch other artists.

"I proposed to my wife in that club," says Bobby.

Tommy recalls that when the double act were on stage they topped the bill with Russ Abbot and The Black Abbots.

He adds: "We used to stop at Yarm in digs with a lovely family called The Watsons who later moved to Redcar. We were within walking distance of the Stockton Fiesta, it was brilliant."

They're finding Peter Pan a challenge worth taking on because it's not normally done by double acts "so we making it up as we go along". Tommy comments: "I don't think humour has really changed. I think the weirder comedy that came through in the 1990s did slightly change things, but most of it is observation and at the end of the day if you're funny it's funny."

Although they reckon panto will always be part of North-Life life, the pair do feel that few of the comics coming through are getting the training of a circuit which saw you move up from workingmen's clubs, to nightclubs to theatre.

Tommy explains: "That's not there now and I don't know where the comics are going to come from to do what we do."

Bobby jokes: "The scary thing about panto is why the adults shout louder than the kids. " But his partner finishes his train of thought and adds: "A lot of acts today won't do panto because they have to do two shows a day. But we always have done and we look forward to it because we have families there from granddad and grandma to kids and you have to entertain across the board."

Part of the Cannon and Ball appeal is that the comics fly the show by the seat of their pants and use ad-libs from each other or the audience.

Tommy remembers Bobby coming up with the phrase "we're all in the same boat" during an appearance in Blackpool and "it developed into a 50-minute routine, but you couldn't have come to us with it as an idea for a sketch about a boat.

"Something will come up that will be virtually become a catchphrase by the time we finish."

But the most impressive part of doing panto this year is the chance for an audience member to win a Haven Holiday mini-break at every performance.

Bobby says: "We've never known this in a pantomime before but everybody who comes to the pantomime can win a holiday at every performance... so that's fantastic."

But one thing likely to be missing is the traditional 'kids on stage' section and the two comics are keen to have a sing-song instead.

Tommy explains: "We tried getting kids up one year and we couldn't control them. You can get six children up and they'll all be brilliant and you can get another six and just have one who doesn't gel in and you can fall flat on your face."

But as the conversation moves back to years in the business, Bobby quips:

"I knew Tommy when he had hair," inspiring his partner to tell the joke: "A bloke says my son's got a new word, it's 'baldie'. The other said so have I 'hereditary'."

Like many ex-TV stars, the pair have twice been offered TV shows along the lines of I'm A Celebrity but have always rejected the idea.

Tommy comments: "I think it's great if they want to do it if it's raising money for charity. My daughters are 13 and ten and I've a son who is eight and none them know who these celebrities are. They turn to me and say 'who are they dad?'.

Bobby says: "I was offered Celebrity Wife Swap... they offered me a fridge. I didn't take it because I'm living with one already."

* Peter Pan runs from today until January 23. Box Office: (01325) 486555

Published: ??/??/2004