Arise, Sir Doddy: Day of joy and a lifetime of laughter

Entertainer Sir Ken Dodd said he was tickled pink to have been dubbed a knight by the Duke of Cambridge, for a career making the nation laugh and his charity work.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Mar 2017, 13:45 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 10:44 BST
Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.
Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.

The Liverpudlian, who is still touring at the age of 89, was overjoyed when William awarded him the honour during a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony.

Famed for his wild hair, buck teeth and tickling stick, the veteran comedian said of the honour: “I’m delighted and highly tickled.

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“One of the happiest things is the joy and pleasure it brings to your family and friends and then you say to yourself it is a great honour and I just hope I’ll be worthy of it.”

Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.
Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.

Born the son of a coal merchant in 1927 in Knotty Ash, Sir Ken made his professional debut at the Nottingham Empire Theatre in 1954 and has been performing regularly ever since.

His talent led to shows on the radio and television and a recording career, with his signature tune Happiness released in 1964.

The following year a 42-week run at the London Palladium cemented his status and he also made it into the Guinness Book of Records for telling 1,500 jokes in three and a half hours.

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In 1989, he was charged with tax evasion but was acquitted after a three-week trial.

Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams at Buckingham Palace in London after receiving her OBE from the Duke of Cambridge.Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams at Buckingham Palace in London after receiving her OBE from the Duke of Cambridge.
Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams at Buckingham Palace in London after receiving her OBE from the Duke of Cambridge.

Despite his age Sir Ken’s work ethic is renown with his gigs regularly lasting hours - and throughout 2017 he is touring the nation with his Happiness show.

Sir Ken added: “Some of my shows last over four hours but there’s also a supporting cast, we do it as a team so I love to have other acts on the same show.”

The veteran comic said the fans who come to his gigs kept him going: “It’s the audiences, you live off an audience.

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“I tell people I’ve got the best job in the world, because I only see happy people.

Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.
Sir Ken Dodd at Buckingham Palace, London, after he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Duke of Cambridge.

“I only see them laughing and it’s a wonderful feeling, it comes over to you on the stage when you have an audience laughing their socks off.

“I won’t hang my tickling stick up, till I have to.”

Also recognised at today’s investiture ceremony was Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams, who was awarded an OBE for a glittering career inside the ring.

The double Olympic gold medallist, who will contest her debut professional fight next month, has also won titles at the World, European and Commonwealth championships.

Related topics:CambridgeNicola AdamsBuckingham Palace