He was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to entertainment and charity.
He continued to tour the UK in 2018 with The Ken Dodd Happiness Show before pulling out of his tour due to health issues.
Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born on 8 November 1927 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, Lancashire, the son of a coal merchant, Arthur Dodd, and wife Sarah (née Gray). He had an older brother, William (1925–2011) and a younger sister. He went to the Knotty Ash School, and sang in the local church choir of St John's Church, Knotty Ash.
He then attended Holt High School, a grammar school in Childwall, but left at age 14 to work for his father. Around this time he became interested in show business after seeing an advert in a comic: "Fool your teachers, amaze your friends—send 6d in stamps and become a ventriloquist!" and sending off for the book. Not long after, his father bought him a ventriloquist's dummy and Ken called it Charlie Brown. He started entertaining at the local orphanage, then at various other local community functions.
He got his big break at age 26 when, in September 1954, he made his professional show-business debut at the now-demolished Nottingham Empire. A nervous young man, he sat in a local milk bar for most of the afternoon, going over and over his lines before going to the theatre. He later said, "Well at least they didn't boo me off". He continued to perform, and in 1955 he appeared at Blackpool, where, in the following year, he had a part in "Let's Have Fun". His performance at the Central Pier was part of a comedy revue with Jimmy James and Company. Also on the same bill were Jimmy Clitheroe and Roy Castle.[7] Dodd first gained top billing at Blackpool in 1958. He has guested on innumerable television and radio shows and made many appearances on BBC TV's long running programme, The Good Old Days.
Dodd had been described as "the last great music hall entertainer". His stand-up comedy style was fast and relied on the rapid delivery of one-liner jokes. He said that his comic influences included other Liverpool comedians like Arthur Askey, Robb Wilton, Tommy Handley and the "cheeky chappy" from Brighton, Max Miller. He interspersed the comedy with occasional songs, both serious and humorous, in an incongruously fine light baritone voice, and with his original speciality, ventriloquism.
Dodd had many recording hits, charting on 19 occasions in the UK Top 40, including his first single "Love Is Like a Violin" (1960), produced on Decca Records by Alex Wharton, which charted at number 8 (UK), and his song "Tears" (Columbia), which topped the UK charts for five weeks in 1965, selling over a million copies. At the time it was the UK's biggest selling single by a solo artist, and remains one of the UK's biggest selling singles of all time. Dodd was selected to perform the song on A Jubilee Of Music on BBC One on 31 December 1976, a celebration of the key pop successes of the Queen's first 25 years as Britain's monarch.
Dodd was renowned for the length of his performances, and during the 1960s he earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the world's longest ever joke-telling session: 1,500 jokes in three and a half hours (7.14 jokes per minute), undertaken at a Liverpool theatre, where audiences entered the show in shifts.
Dodd appeared on many Royal Variety Performances. The last was in 2006, in front of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, at the London Coliseum. During this performance, he reprised some of his famous jokes, including those about tax accountants as well as singing his famous song - "Happiness".
In October 1987, Dodd officially opened the Arndale shopping centre in Accrington.
He had continued to tour and, despite his age, his shows frequently did not finish until after midnight. In 2012 at the age of 84, he played the Princes Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex on 7 July. Starting at 7.15 pm he continued until just before 9.00 pm when Sybie Jones took to the stage. Returning at 9.30 pm he continued until 10.00 pm. The second support act performed until Dodd's return just before 11.00 pm when he continued until 00.25 am. As of 2017, Dodd continued to tour the UK extensively, with his comedy, music and variety show.
The shows that Dodd has starred in are: The Ken Dodd Show (1959 - 1966), Doddy's Music Box (1967), Ken Dodd and the Diddymen (1969 - 1973), The Ken Dodd Show (1969), Ken Dodd in Funny You Should Say That (1972), Ken Dodd says Stand By Your Beds, Ken Dodd's World of Laughter (1974), The Ken Dodd New Year's Eve Special (1975), The Ken Dodd Show (1978), The Ken Dodd Laughter Show (1979), Dodd on his Todd (1981), Doddy! (1982), Ken Dodd's Showbiz (1982), Ken Dodd at the London Palladium (1990), An Audience with Ken Dodd (1994), Another Audience with Ken Dodd (2002), Ken Dodd's Happiness (2007), Ken Dodd: In His Own Words (2016).
Honours
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1982 New Year Honours for services to show business and charity and was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to entertainment and charity.[14] The award was formally conferred by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 2 March 2017.
Dodd became one of the rare entertainers to be given a second show of An Audience with.... This show was entitled Another Audience with Ken Dodd originally broadcast in 2002.
In December 2004, Dodd was performing his comedy and music show to a sell out audience at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham to celebrate his 50 years in show business. He was presented with a framed playbill of his first professional performance - which was at the Empire Theatre, Nottingham in September 1954.
In a 2005 poll of comedians and comedy insiders to find the 'Comedians' Comedian', Dodd was voted amongst the 'Top 50 Comedy Acts Ever', ranked as number 36. He was made an honorary fellow of Liverpool John Moores University in 1997. A statue depicting Dodd with his trademark "Tickling Stick" was unveiled in Liverpool Lime Street railway station on 11 June 2009.
Dodd was inducted into the exclusive show business fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats.
Dodd was made an honorary fellow of the University of Chester on 4 November 2009, having been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters at a graduation ceremony in Chester Cathedral. His doctorate was presented by Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster. He was awarded a Doctorate of Letters at Liverpool Hope University on 25 January 2010 during the university's Foundation Day celebrations.
In 2016 Ken Dodd was awarded the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award, a recognition of his lifetime's contribution to the world of comedy. He received the award at an event hosted by Dr Matthew Sweet.
A stalker, Ruth Tagg, harassed Dodd and his partner, Anne Jones, in October 2001, by sending them threatening letters, a dead rat, and also attempted to burn down their house by pushing burning rags through the letterbox. Tagg pleaded guilty to harassment and arson at Preston Crown Court.
Dodd married his partner of 40 years, Anne Jones, on Friday 9 March 2018 at their home in Knotty Ash, Liverpool two days before his death. prior to his death he was recently released from hospital after 6 weeks of treatment for a chest infection.
In 1989 Dodd was charged with tax evasion. The subsequent trial, with the prosecution case led by Brian Leveson QC, produced several revelations. The Diddy Men, who had appeared in his stage act, were often played by local children from stage schools, and were revealed never to have been paid. Dodd was also revealed to have very little money in his bank account, having £336,000 in cash stashed in suitcases in his attic. When asked by the judge, "What does a hundred thousand pounds in a suitcase feel like?", Dodd made his now famous reply, "The notes are very light, M'Lord."
Dodd was represented by George Carman QC, who in court famously quipped, "Some accountants are comedians, but comedians are never accountants". The trial lasted three weeks: Dodd was acquitted.
Despite the strain of the trial, Dodd immediately capitalised on his new-found notoriety with a successful season running from Easter to Christmas 1990 at the London Palladium. It was there he had previously broken the house record for the longest comedy season at the theatre, in 1965, with a residency lasting 42 weeks. Some of his subsequent material mocked the trial and tax in general. For a while he introduced his act with the words, "Good evening, my name is Kenneth Arthur Dodd; singer, photographic playboy and failed accountant!"
Discography
UK chart singles
Title Release date Chart position
UK Singles Notes
"Love Is Like A Violin" 7 July 1960 8
"Once In Every Lifetime" 15 June 1961 28
"Pianissimo" 1 February 1962 21
"Still" 29 August 1963 35
"Eight By Ten" 6 February 1964 22
"Happiness" 23 July 1964 31
"So Deep Is The Night" 26 November 1964 31
"Tears" 2 September 1965 1 Sold over 1.5 million copies;
33rd best-selling single of all time in the UK
"The River (Le Colline Sono In Fiore)" 18 November 1965 3 (Angiolini, Shuman) with Geoff Love and his Orchestra
"Promises" 12 May 1966 6
"More Than Love" 4 August 1966 14
"It's Love" 27 October 1966 36
"Let Me Cry On Your Shoulder" 19 January 1967 11
"Tears Won't Wash Away These Heartaches" 30 July 1969 22
"Brokenhearted" 5 December 1970 15
"When Love Comes Round Again (L'arca di Noe)" 10 July 1971 19
"Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)" 18 November 1972 29
"Think Of Me (Wherever You Are)" 29 November 1975 21
"Hold My Hand" 26 December 1981 44
Other singles
"Where's Me Shirt?" (1965)
"The Same Mistakes"/"Call Me Mister Sunshine" (1967)
"You're My Best Friend" (1980)
"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" (1980)
"It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" (1980)
tears
Ken Dodd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Memories of a love you never meant
I just can't believe you could forget me
After all those happy hours we spent (together)
Tears have been my only consolation
But tears can't mend a broken heart I must confess
Let's forgive and forget
Once more to tears of happiness
Tears have been my only consolation
But tears can't mend a broken heart I must confess
Let's forgive and forget
Turn our tears of regret
Once more to tears of happiness
Let's forgive and forget
Turn our tears of regret
Once more to tears of happiness
In the lyrics of "Tears," Ken Dodd is expressing the pain and heartache of a lost love. The tears that he once shed as a reminder of the relationship have now become a source of regret and sorrow. He talks about how he cannot believe that his lover could just forget him after they shared so many happy moments together. The tears that were once a source of comfort have now become a burden, as they cannot heal his broken heart.
The song highlights the universal theme of heartbreak, which has been experienced by countless people worldwide. The lyrics capture the feeling of being left with nothing but tears after a once-cherished love ends. It also touches on the idea of forgiveness and moving past the hurt and pain to find happiness once again.
Overall, "Tears" is a powerful and poignant representation of the emotions one experiences after a breakup. It serves as a reminder that even though tears may be a symbol of sadness, they can also offer hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Tears for souvenirs are all you've left me
All that remains from our relationship is my tears
Memories of a love you never meant
I cherish memories of love that you never actually felt
I just can’t believe you could forget me
I am surprised that you can easily forget me despite our shared happy moments
After all those happy hours we spent (together)
We spent many hours together that were enjoyable and now they seem lost
Tears have been my only consolation
My tears offer the only comfort I have
But tears can’t mend a broken heart I must confess
Unfortunately, my tears can't heal my broken heart
Let's forgive and forget
We should let go of our pain and anger towards each other
Turn our tears of regret
We should channel our feelings of regret and sadness
Once more to tears of happiness
Tears of joy and happiness are what we should be experiencing again
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Uhr, Frank Capano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Can o
Tears
Ken Dodd
Tears for souvenirs are all you've left me
Memories of a love you never meant
I just can't believe you could forget me
After all those happy hours we spent (together)
Tears have been my only consolation
But tears can't mend a broken heart I must confess
Let's forgive and forget
Turn our tears of regret
Once more to tears of happiness
Tears have been my only consolation
But tears…
csjjpm
Saw him some time in the 90s and went home in agony after three hours of side splitting comedy. You can never criticise Doddy if you haven't seen him live. A genius.
raymond chase
One of the most deserving knighthoods of all time. Congratulations Sir Ken.
richiexl5
This was the last song that my lovely father bought just a short time before he died suddenly in October 1965. For many years I couldn’t listen to it the pain was so great, but when my wife and I were having a quiet drink in a pub on holiday once this old song came on over the jukebox, I cried like a baby, but now I listen to it often and I like to think Dad is sitting with me listening too. God bless you Dad!
Michael Davies
How sad hope the music eases your pain, x
terence barrett
richiexl5 he must have been a lovely bloke '' a great dad''''you know some people ''and some kids'' don't know how '''lucky''' they are''to have kind,caring, loving good protective parents'etc''from when a tiny tot starts school,love happyness confidence built in to the child'''well its more than one rung ''up the ladder'' for its future,my poor mother raised 4 of us on her own( she had to divorce),I was 5 years old'' the youngest' a tiny skinny gentle kid''i am now 61 ,strokes HBP spine disease ,brain disease etc etc ,and have had it hard all of my life''even now having'' to justify your health+ fitness''to pip sweaks ''who are not old enough ''or wise enough' to tie there own shoe laces''they might have exams,degree' but don't know the rudimentary,of life and of christian charity and survival''''we hear'' prime minister ''oh Teresa may is a christian she goes to church,well if she's a Christian,,'why are,the poor, old disabled people etc suffering,,friend 'your lovely father ''just like my old mother' will be wondering 'what as happened to our Christian country'
Mr Glenn Rock poohead
richiexl5 a great song and I’m glad you now listen and remember all the good times. Bless you and bless ken rip x
GJDiary
richiexl5 my father used to listen to this song too brings back some happy memories
Lauren B
Im usually not a fan of music in this genre but this song is amazing, and looking at the comments has sparked memories among people - anything that does that has a powerful influence and will rank highly with me :]
Jay BraveHeart
He did have a lovely voice and of course even wrote Happiness, the last great variety comedy acts. He will be sorely missed. RIP, Ken and a big thank you for the laughs.
John Mullen
Lovely song by such a great legend of all round comedy entertainment . So sad to hear about the loss of Ken today, He will surely be missed by myself. R.I.P. Ken