Ken Dodd

Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd (8 November 1927 – 11 March 2018) was an English comedian, actor and singer. He was described as "the last great music hall entertainer" and was primarily known for his live stand-up performances. As a singer he sold more than 100 million records. A lifelong resident of the Knotty Ash neighbourhood of Liverpool, Dodd started his career as an entertainer in the mid-1950s. His performances included rapid and incessant delivery of often surreal jokes, and would run for several hours, frequently past midnight. His verbal and physical comedy was supplemented by his red, white, and blue "tickling stick" prop, but these colours could change for occasions such as St Patrick's Day (17 March), when he would choose a green, white and orange pair. He often introduced the sticks with his characteristic upbeat greeting of "How tickled I am!" He interspersed comedy with songs, both serious and humorous, and with his original speciality, ventriloquism. He had several hit singles, primarily as a ballad singer in the 1960s, and occasionally appeared in dramatic roles. He performed on radio and television and popularised the characters the Diddy Men. Dodd was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to entertainment and charity. His stage career lasted for over 60 years, and he continued to perform until the end of 2017. He died on 11 March 2018, at the age of 90.