They’ve been a duo for 50 years, but comedy legends Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball are not ready to part ways just yet.

“We still get on”, admitted Bobby.

“I’ve got to look after him, haven’t I?”

The pair are quick to fall into their trademark mickey-taking as they talk about their forthcoming visit to Poole this week.

Tommy and Bobby are starring in the touring production of Robin Hood farce Ha Ha Hood! And The Prince of Leaves at Lighthouse, alongside Su Pollard.

It’s something a little different for the duo, who admit they had never heard of the series of plays (there has also been a Ha Ha Hitler! and a Ha Ha Hamlet!) before they received the call to take part.

“We thought we would give it a go,” said Tommy.

“It’s very unusual, it’s quite different for me and Bobby, we don’t do what Cannon and Ball normally do, but the way it’s written, it’s very funny.”

The farce is set ten years after Robin Hood and Maid Marian first got together and the couple have undergone a nasty divorce.

Tommy takes on the roles of both the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and Little John, while Bobby plays Friar Tuck and Guy of Gisborne, as well as a couple of other character parts.

“It’s a real romp,” said Tommy.

“It’s two hours and it just flies by. It’s got something for everybody and it’s a real laugh. We are enjoying it.”

The show re-visits the characters ten years after the happy ever after, with Little John and Friar Tuck both described as “considerably older and rougher around the edges”.

But Tommy and Bobby are relishing the chance to play the characters as real people.

“The industry always shows characters as young people,” explained Bobby.

“But what happened to them later in life? Well come and see the show and we’ll show you.”

Tommy added: “They’ve lived and have so many great stories to tell now. “Although we are a bit worried if Marian is really still a maid?”

The pair agree Nottingham-born Su makes a perfect “menopausal” Marian, although Bobby said his favourite portrayal would be by actress Sienna Miller.

“Okay, Sienna has never played Maid Marian, but I can dream can’t I? But let’s be honest, Su is going to make a marvellous Marian. She’s my favourite already.”

The 61-date tour began in August, but the pair are certainly looking forward to their Dorset visit.

“We love it,” said Bobby.

“We’ve been down and done summer shows here and we love it very much.”

Following the tour, the duo will be busy with panto at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln.

(“Robin Hood, Lincoln, what are the odds of that happening?” said Bobby.) Tommy, who has just finished filming a stint in BBC1’s Doctors, will then be taking part in a project yet to be announced, while Bobby will be filming another series of the Sky comedy Mount Pleasant.

So they are capable of doing SOME things on their own. But this is the duo who even went into the Australian jungle as a pair, when they took part in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

“First, we are friends and secondly, we don’t know how to do anything else,” admitted Bobby.

“Cannon and Ball are Cannon and Ball.”

  • Cannon and Ball are starring in Ha Ha Hood! And The Prince of Leaves, on Tuesday, October 7, at Lighthouse, Poole, lighthousepoole.co.uk.