Bob's career as a vocal entertainer commenced in 1971 after leaving the armed forces. Bob was already a seasoned entertainer by then having appeared in numerous amateur dramatic and operatic shows going right back his school days in Chorley, Lancashire. During his last year in school Bob took a starring role as the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz and was applauded in the Lancashire Evening News with the headline "CLOWNING SCARECROW COULD HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH STRAW".

Bob's early experiences with the world of entertainmenr didn't stop at performing  though. Production, lighting, sound and direction also featured heavily and he even  designed and built a theatre from scratch at RAF Laarbruch in  Germany whilst serving under his real name of Robert Hutchinson in the Royal Signals.

After leaving the armed forces Bob adopted the stage name 'Tony Hoffman'  and joined the club circuit. He was soon in demand and during the next ten  years Bob performed in countless clubs including some the countries leading  cabaret venues. He also made a number of TV and radio appearances in the UK as well as mainland Europe and the Far East. In  1977  Bob became an overnight star in the Philippines after appearing on  National television there. Also during this period Bob successfully produced  and directed a youth talent show on behalf of the Bolton Evening News and  Bolton YMCA.

In 1978 Bob saw the opportunity to do something else he had always wanted to do and returned to full-time education to take a degree in philosophy. He was awarded an honours degree in 1981. To earn money during this period Bob worked as a compere and toured areas like the notorious North East between terms. Following his studies, Bob was faced with the choice of continuing with his singing career or using his newly gained educational qualifications to pursue a more stable career in what was then the 'bright new world' of personal computers. With three young children to support it was really no contest and Bob reluctantly hung up his vocal chords. He applied the same determination and enthusiasm to his newcareer and was made a Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers in August 1992.

The desire to perform still remained, however, and in 1999 - after an absence of over 15 years - Bob began preparing to make a 'come back'. By November of that year Bob was back on the 'circuit' and quickly began to re-establish himself as one of the North's leading vocal entertainers as demonstrated by receiving the 'Entertainer of the year' award from the Ashton and District Concert Secrataries Association in 2000.

Attention to detail and hours of 'behind the scenes' work ensure a polished, professional performance which has the capacity to 'blow away' audiences at many different types of venue. Bob is equally at home working self-contained or using backing musicians. An accomplished musical arranger and 'elector-musician'.

Bob has produced and engineered the majority of the backing tracks he uses and also produces his own 'dots'. As well as making hundreds of appearances in clubs throughout the North West, Bob has also found time to build his own recording studio and produce a collection of stunning tracks for his new CD Songs From Under The Bed. He has also appeared on BBC GMR and BBC Radio Lancashire and has been featured on BBC TV's breakfast Programme and BBC Radio 4's Today Programme as well as being featured in the Daily Mail and Independent newspapers and in 'M' magazine.

At 64, Bob is happy to be known as a 'mature' entertainer but his looks, singing voice and lively stage presence ensure that his appeal is ageless.

In 2009 Bob made a determined effort to carve out a new career as an actor. Since then Bob has worked as a background artists in the recent Warner Bros film 'Sherlock Holmes' and as a featured background artist on Coronation Street and BBC's 'Waterloo Road'. Following on from this Bob won more demanding roles in a number of short films. Bob has the starring role as a wizard like dream maker in 'Perchance To Dream' and has a strong supporting role in 'A life through others' and takes the co-lead in 'Cognition' .

Bob's professional stage debut saw him taking on the lead male role in Paul Kenny's 'Love Shy Neighbour' which achieved 4 star reviews in it's second short run in November 2011. Following on from this Bob was chosen to take on another lead male role as Mr Smith is Christopher Taylor's production of The Bald Prima Donna which is set for it's second run in April 2011 at the prestigious Lowry studio theatre.

Bob's latest film role as Mr Shackell in 'The Rochdale Pioneers' marks a new chapter in his acting career with the film being set for world wide release in November 2012.

Bob is a keen golfer but with a handicap of 20 it is clear that his golfing skills are not quite so polished!!! Nevertheless he has recently been elected Vice Caption of the Lancashire Entertainers Golf Society and will serve as Captain in 2012.