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Tommy Cannon tearfully remembers Bobby Ball in moving tribute: 'I loved him to bits'

Watch: Tommy Cannon makes emotional tribute to Bobby Ball

Tommy Cannon tearfully remembered his late co-star and friend Bobby Ball on Friday's instalment of This Morning.

It came just a day after it was announced that his comedy partner had passed away on 28th October aged 76 after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Cannon, 82, spoke from his home in York as he expressed his disbelief that Ball was gone.

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“It’s a very sad time… and this moment and time, I don’t know where I am. I can’t believe he’s passed away. I can’t make any sense of it yet, I really can’t. I miss him terribly, I loved him to bits. We had a great career," he said.

Bobby Ball and Tommy Cannon attend the British Soap Awards at Media City on May 18, 2013 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Bobby Ball and Tommy Cannon attend the British Soap Awards at Media City on May 18, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

He also explained he wasn't aware anything was wrong with Ball's health as his deterioration happened so quickly and that they'd worked together earlier in the month.

“I didn’t really know, we last worked on the 9th of this month and he seemed OK and I didn’t know anything was wrong really," he shared. "Then on Saturday he was taken into hospital and that’s where he stayed… we were told he’s stable, or he’s getting a little better, and I don’t know, suddenly he just passed away.

Watch: Bobby Ball dies aged 75 after testing positive for COVID-19

"I got a phone call from his lovely wife and that was it. It was so quick, but like I say, now he’s at rest. God love him. He’ll be up there with all his pals, Eddie Large and Eric Sykes and Bernard Manning and all the greats and he’ll be up there with them shining like a light.”

Eddie Large died earlier this year aged 78, also following a positive diagnosis of the coronavirus.

Cannon added that he didn't think he would "ever get over" Ball's death after almost 58 years of working together.

'Cannon and Ball', English comedian, actor, and singer Bobby Ball and English comedian and singer Tommy Cannon, co-stars in movie 'The Boys in Blue', UK, 13th November 1982. (Photo by Hilaria McCarthy/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
'Cannon and Ball', English comedian, actor, and singer Bobby Ball and English comedian and singer Tommy Cannon, co-stars in movie 'The Boys in Blue', UK, 13th November 1982. (Photo by Hilaria McCarthy/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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The comedy duo were well known for hosting their own programme, The Cannon And Ball Show, in the late 70s and 80s.

Meanwhile, Ball also appeared in television shows such as Heartbeat, Benidorm and Last of the Summer Wine.