He was to beat taxman
give someone is advice and And he spans generations.”
Fellow Liverpudlian comic Tom O’Connor said: “A great loss to entertainment. I feel sorry for any up-and-coming comedian who’ll never have a chance of seeing his brilliance.”
John Bishop, another Liverpool comedian, wrote on Instagram: “True comedy legend. RIP Sir Ken Dodd.”
Former TV executive Lord Grade said Sir Ken was the “greatest I’ve ever seen on the stage”, a “comic genius” and “absolutely peerless”.
Comedian Russ Abbot described Sir Ken as “an icon, a one-off and a true professor of comedy”.
Prolific
time.
Sir Paul McCartney tweeted: “Farewell to my fellow Liverpudlian, the tattyfilarious Ken Dodd.”
Author and comedian David Walliams said that “comedy flowed through him like water”.
The Diocese of Liverpool said it would be announcing details of Sir Ken’s funeral soon.
The prolific comic entered the Guinness Book Of Records for the longest joke-telling session – 1,500 jokes in three and a half hours – during the 1960s.
His TV shows included The Ken Dodd Show, Beyond Our Ken, Ken Dodd’s Laughter Show and An Audience With Ken Dodd.
He entered the big time in 1965 with the longest-ever run at the London Palladium – an extraordinary 42 weeks. Also a popular singer, in 1964 the star released his first single, Happiness, followed by smash hit Tears in 1965, and then Promises. His first fiancee, Anita Boutin, died of a brain tumour in 1977 aged 45.
He met Anne, 76, during one of his shows in Manchester.
Known for his unruly hair and teeth, Sir Ken performed his last show just months ago in Liverpool.
But all dates for this year were cancelled when the star became unwell.
His publicist Robert Holmes explained this was “because when Ken goes on stage he’s up there for about four hours”.
Sir Ken vowed to carry on performing as he left hospital last month after six weeks’ treatment for a chest infection.
He said at the time: “Once I’ve recovered myself I’ll get back to doing the job, which is the only job I’ve ever had.
“While I was in here, I wrote some new jokes, so it should be all right.”
Yesterday, a heartbroken Mr Holmes added: “With Ken gone, the lights have been turned out in the world of variety.
“He was one of the last music hall greats. There is no-one else that comes close.”
Explaining Friday’s hasty marriage, Mr Holmes said: “He asked Anne if she wanted to marry. They got the registrar and were married in the house.
“He died two Mother’s Day. It’s beat them all.” days later on a love story to MADCAP: Left, Sir Ken with a Diddy Man for An Audience With…in 1994. Above, Lady Anne and Ken’s nephew John Lewis outside her home yesterday. Right, the comic with his famous tickling sticks in 2002