How tickled Doddy is to be 80

Nov 8 2007 by Amy Salter, Liverpool Daily Post

KEN DODD, the living legend of comedy, celebrates his 80th birthday today, and is so tickled by the momentous milestone that he is sharing all the affection shown for himself with other legendary Mersey comics.

The Squire of Knotty Ash and guardian of its Jam Butty Mines has always admitted a lifelong admiration for a group of four other men of mirth – Arthur Askey, Ted Ray, Tommy Handley and Robb Wilton.

And he chose the eve of his own special day to mark his regard for the men he calls his own “special heroes – the four mainstreams of Merseyside comedy.”

In a ceremony at the Royal Court theatre – home to many of his and their greatest triumphs – he unveiled a scroll bearing their names which now takes pride of place in the theatre entrance.

The moving moment, described by Ken as a “dream come true”, came amid rapturous applause from wellwishers and after guests had tucked into – what else? – jam butties washed down with Champagne.

“I've been trying to pay this tribute for over 25 years,” said Ken. “It's my lifetime ambition to celebrate the great comedians, the godfathers who made the Liverpool sense of humour recognised all over the world.

“They are the greatest comedians Liverpool has ever produced, everyone else follows in their footsteps."

Ken said an official commemoration of their work had been a long time coming.

“We all brag and boast about the Liverpool sense of humour, but don't pay tribute,” he said. “These were the original comedians who symbolise the Liverpool sense of humour.

“Watching Arthur Askey was like watching a firework display. Ted was the first and best stand- up, had a brain like a razor, and was the king of ad-libs.

“Tommy invented radio comedy and was a ring master to strange and fabulous characters based on his experiences in Liverpool.”

Ken added: “Robb Wilton was a pioneer of a unique form of English humour called droll, and everybody’s dad can do a Wilton impression.”

Although the tribute idea had been in Ken’s mind for some time, it was the BBC that made it happen.

He said: “I'm doing a documentary for BBC2’s Arena, which will be shown over Christmas. I told them I wanted to do the scroll and they said they would have it made for me.”

Ken is now planning another tribute to other stars of the city. “There will be a second scroll with all of Liverpool’s comedians and, of course, comediennes. There are some very funny women in Liverpool – just ask any man, he'll tell you the same.”