My Doddy was an old fashioned romantic Lady Anne’s TV tribute to comic Ken

ways said i we’d get married at some time. Apparently he was talking to our vicar and asked if there was a way it could be done privately, very quietly.

“Julia Jesson the vicar came over and friends Peter and Colette and two registrars. Licenses were done, whatever paperwork was filled.

“Somehow it happened. He said his vows and I was saying my vows. It was a normal wedding ceremony. And we had a blessing afterwards, which was all very beautiful. It happened. Obviously I’m very glad it did, and I think he was.”

Anne said his death was very peaceful and it was as if he had just gone to sleep.

She and Doddy had met in 1961, when he was engaged to nurse Anita Boutin. They got together after Anita died from a brain tumour in 1977.

Anne was a dancer on his song Love Is Like A Violin and made an impres- sion when she slid off a mock violin and hit the floor with a thump.

She said despite his showmanship, Doddy liked a more low-key existence at home. She said: “There was Ken Dodd the performer, and Ken Dodd the private man. He wasn’t a typical showbizzy person. We had a normal life at home, a typical day would be like anybody’s.

“He would be a late riser, he’d eat breakfast late. He liked my pea soup. He didn’t like garlic in anything. He didn’t cook at all. He’d brew tea all day.”

His pals said his sole purpose was to make people happy. Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck said: “He was a Scouse hero. I loved him as a comic. He was blessed.”

Ken Dodd: How Tickled We Were, BBC Two, 9pm, Boxing Day