How Bobby Ball came from nothing to become one of UK's greatest comedy stars

Bobby B has died at the age of 76 after testing positive for coronavirus, his family have said.  The comedian, who was one half of duo Cannon & B, enjoyed a career that spanned over five decades.  But the telly legend had humble beginnings and worked as a welder in  Oldham, Lancashire, when he first met his comedy partner Tommy Cannon in the sixties.  Tommy told the Independent in 2006: "We first met in a welding factory in Oldham.  "He was the first person who spoke to me out of 500 men - he came in late for work and said, 'Hiya, mate.'  "Maybe he felt sorry for me."   Bobby said in the same interview: "I met Tommy at work. It's like with anything else, when you start a new job, it's daunting.  "I was always late, so when I came in I said, 'How are you, c**k?' I suppose he felt relieved."  The duo struck up a friendship and Bobby invited Tommy to join him singing at the working men's clubs he performed at on weekends.   B married his first wife Joan in 1964 and they had two sons ...