Lady Anne ‘overwhelmed’ by love and affection from public
SIR KEN Dodd’s widow said the world had “lost a most life-enhancing, brilliant, creative comedian” as she paid tribute to her husband of just a few days.
Lady Anne Dodd staged a makeshift press conference outside the house in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash that she and he had shared, and which had been his lifelong home.
Floral tributes and tickling sticks left by wellwishers surrounded her as she spoke of the “overwhelming love and affection” she had received since announcing his death. She had been at his bedside when he took his final bow.
Lady Anne had been expecting to be announcing the news of their marriage this week. “We first met when I was in The
Ken Dodd Christmas Show in 1961 at the Manchester Opera House,” she said.
“I’ve had the supreme joy and privilege of working and living with him as a partner for the past 40 years.”
She said: “He just wanted to make people happy. He lived to perfect his art and entertain his live and adoring audiences.”
Anne had been a Bluebell dancer when she and Ken met. They became close after his first fiancée, Anita Boutin, died of a brain tumour in 1977, aged 45, after 24 years together.
Sir Ken’s publicist, Robert Holmes, described the comedian’s romance with Anne as “the love story to beat them all”.
He said: “He asked Anne if she wanted to marry. They got the registrar and were married in the house on Friday.
“He died two days later on Mother’s Day. Anne is obviously very upset.”
Mr Holmes added: “With Ken gone, the lights have been turned out in the world of variety. He was a comedy legend and a genius – one of the last music hall greats. No one else that comes close.”