Sir Ken Dodd honoured at special celebration on his 90th birthday

The Squire of Knotty Ash is to be honoured with a special civic lunch at Liverpool Town Hall on his 90th birthday.

On Wednesday 8 November, Sir Ken Dodd – a Freeman of the City – will be treated to a rendition of his famous hit Happiness by pupils from Knotty Ash Primary School, and children from Trinity Primary School will entertain him with their favourite jokes. A special Doddy-themed afternoon tea will be served – including sandwiches fresh from the Jam Butty Mines and Diddy Pies!

Last year Jay sat down for a chat with Sir Ken ahead of his annual Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Christmas show. He spoke career highlights, things he’d have changed, and of course gave us LOTS of giggles, watch it below.

Sir Ken will also be presented with a giant birthday card filled with goodwill messages from local people – simply email town.hall@liverpool.gov.uk and put “Ken Dodd” in the subject line, by Tuesday 7 November.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said: “To borrow a line from Sir Ken, how tickled we are to be honouring him on the very special occasion of his 90th birthday

“He has been entertaining the nation for an incredible 65 years, and while other people of his vintage are now putting their feet up, he is still performing across the country with an energy and enthusiasm that is truly age defying.

“He is the King of Comedy and the Master of Mirth – a one-off national treasure, the likes of which we have never seen before, and never will again.

“It is right and proper that we thank him for a lifetime of making people laugh.”

Sir Ken is proud to be honoured with a civic lunch on his 90th birthday in his home city.

He said: “I have travelled all over the world, but I have yet to visit any place to compare with Merseyside.

“It has such a rich diversity of creative talents in music, the arts and especially humour. The people are blessed with kindness, generosity and tremendous energy and drive.”

Picture/ BBC

Did you know these 14 facts about Sir Ken Dodd?

Among his countless awards and accolades is the British Comedy Award for a Lifetime Achievement in comedy
He is an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University3.
He made his film debut in 1997 as the non-speaking court jester Yorick in Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Hamlet’. The cast included Sir John Gielgud, Sir John Mills, Robin Williams, Charlton Heston, Brian Blessed and Julie Christie4.
In 1999 he played ‘Mr.Mouse’ in a star-studded Hollywood version of ‘Alice In Wonderland’ on Channel 4. He appeared alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Gene Wilder, Sir Donald Sinden, Miranda Richardson, Sir Peter Ustinov and Ben Kingsley5.
In 2001 he was honoured to be made a Freeman Of The City of Liverpool6.
In 2002 he starred in ITV’s ‘Another Audience With Ken Dodd’. This became his third video and first DVD, and was repeated on ITV and nominated as ‘Best Entertainment Show’ in the British TV Awards 7.
He was made the first ever member of the TV Times ‘Hall Of Fame’ in 2002 to recognise his long and distinguished career in show business8.

In April 2003 he was named by the people of his native Merseyside as the ‘Greatest Merseysider’ of all time – an honour he regards as the most meaningful ever to be bestowed upon him. “It came from the people who live in Merseyside and love it as much as I do”, he said. Runners-up were John Lennon and Paul McCartney9.

In November 2003, he became the first recipient of ‘The Living Legend’ Award from the British Comedy Society10.

In 2009 he was honoured with a statue of himself in Liverpool’s Lime Street Station11.

In 2010 he was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at both Chester University and Liverpool’s Hope University – the only ecumenical university in Europe

In April 2011 his waxwork figure for Madame Tussauds, Blackpool was unveiled at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Ken has appeared in the famous resort every year since 195413.

He was honoured to be Knighted by HRH Prince William in March 201714.

He was further honoured with the Freedom of the City of London in 2017