Ken Dodd awarded knighthood
- Ken Dodd is to receive a knighthood
- He previously received the OBE in 1982
- Both awards are for services to entertainment and charity
Ken Dodd OBE has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list.
Born in Liverpool in 1927, the stand-up comedian is known for his rapid-fire gags, 'tickle-sticks' and the Diddy Men of Knotty Ash.
Dodd was previously awarded an OBE in 1982, for services to charity and showbusiness. This evening's news will see the Squire of Knotty Ash knighted for services to entertainment and charity.
He says: "I'm very proud, I'm very, very happy and full of plumptiousness. I feel highly tickled. I'd like to thank all the people who, for some time now, have been wishing this to happen and now it has happened... I'm not going to hang my tickling stick up yet. I go up and down the motorway like a human yo-yo and it's lovely. It's what I do."
At the age of 89 he continues to tour Britain with his Happiness live stage show, performing multiple times almost every week of the year. His shows regularly run into the early hours of the following morning, as he loves to entertain audiences and finds it hard to leave the stage.
As well as a long legacy of charity work - including patronage of the British Comedy Society - Dodd has a large number of TV and radio shows to his name, presenting stand-up and variety spectaculars alike. He also became a major recording artist in the 1960s, with one single, Tears (below), reaching number one in 1965 and going on to become the third biggest-selling single in Britain of the whole decade.
Many had doubted the hard-working comic would receive such an honour, after a notorious 1989 court case saw him charged with tax evasion. He mounted a successful defence case of being a disorganised comedian rather than a criminal, and was acquitted.
Also recognised in the list is Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge, who becomes a Dame, for services to theatre and charity. She said: "I'm very surprised indeed, but very pleased that the honour pertains to theatre."
Here is Dodd's hit song, Tears:
Are you a fan of Ken Dodd? Click the button below.