The Squire of Knotty Ash and his Lady: An intimate biography of Sir Ken Dodd

by Tony Nicholson, Lady Anne Dodd (Primary Contributor)

This book, thanks to Ken’s wife, Lady Dodd, gives the first ever in-depth account of his astonishing story, and unravels ‘the other Ken Dodd’ – the fascinating, kind and complicated private man with whom she spent her life. Sir Ken Dodd was a national institution. He worked tirelessly as one Britain’s most popular comedians for a staggering seven decades. His five hour stage shows were legendary, and he was still performing these hilarious theatrical marathons right up to the age of ninety. Ken was the comedian’s comedian. Fellow pros idolised him and looked up to him as the guv’nor. He was also a talented ballad singer, and enjoyed a hugely successful chart-topping career in the 1960s. In fact his was the only name, apart from The Beatles, to appear in the top five best-selling singles of that iconic pop music decade. Despite his nationwide fame and his crazy, larger-than-life stage persona, he was actually a very private person, away from the limelight. A quiet, well-read, deeply religious thinker. He consciously separated ‘the two Ken Dodds’, as he referred to them, and always declined to cooperate with biographers, in order to keep the private Ken Dodd just that – private. If you liked Ken Dodd you will love this book. It will undoubtedly surprise and delight you.

Hardcover

Published March 27, 2021

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this biography of the comic legend with help from his wife and gave some insight into the man

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect biography for its intended audience; informative, appropriately slanted in the direction of favourable and affectionate, and very readable.

I’ve been a fan of Ken Dodd (Doddy) for most of my life. I had the very great privilege to see him perform live and seemed to measure out my childhood with his television shows. I even liked his singing. He survived the cull of “light entertainers” that followed the emergence of “alternative comedy”. He survived a tax investigation greater than that of Willie Nelson. (Like Nelson he was largely the victim of a dishonest/incompetent accountant). He endured a long trial and was found not guilty on all charges. He recovered, retained the most loyal (and numerous) fan-base and worked his way through his troubles. His return to television performance through two “an audience with” shows showed he was still the master. Watch them on YouTube.

Warning: his humour is English music hall based and doesn’t cross the seas.

Tens of thousands lined the streets on a wet day to mark his funeral (which was televised!), he was truly loved in Liverpool (which unlike Cilla, Tarbuck and The Beatles, he never left. Michael Billington, perhaps our most respected theatre critic of the last 50 years said he only ever saw two true geniuses on the stage; Laurence Olivier and Ken Dodd. I’ve been lucky enough to see several comic geniuses on stage; Spike Milligan, Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard and Ken Dodd.

A book for the fans.

[Graham J Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuckles and Tears

When one talks of Ken Dodd it is so easy to enter the realm of cliché and well worn anecdotes. Despite that, Sir Ken is still greatly loved by the British public some years after his passing.
Tony Nicholson in this life of Ken Dodd, assisted by Dodd’s widow, tells a fascinating story of the mirth maker’s journey from child to Grand National Treasure.
At times the platitudes are a bit too much and could do with editing. However this minor fault is more than compensated by the hitherto unknown facts about Dodd’s life being brought into the public domain.
This book is an easy read and enlightening and entertaining. I recommend it.

[Carol-Ann Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching and insightful book that reveals Ken Dodd the man. It dispells some myths and reveals what really happened at one of the worst times of his life: the tax case.

Ken and Ann clearly adored each other and this really comes across in this book.

[kevin evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in-depth biography written by someone who clearly loved him deeply.

[Nicola Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic insight into the greatest comedian who ever lived (in my opinion), so many stories of a wonderful life devoted to entertaining & providing laughter. There truly will be no other like him.

[Steve Gargly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loving tribute to a legend, from those who knew him best. I met him when I was child, and again as a youth leader he was truly a gentleman .

[patricia robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doddy

I loved Ken Ford all my life ,,in fact I still have my Diddyman album on viny!....I really enjoyed learning more about this amazing man,,the book is very well written ,,

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few autobiographies of Ken Dodd, but this was the best. Very personal. A real page turner, misses!!!

[Mark Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. I remember him, obviously, from back in the day, and I grew up thinking I knew a lot about him. I was wrong, but not in the bad way that is de rigeur, these days. What a fantastic man, and what a life!

[Cathy Towers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read about, by all accounts, a lovely man. Really would recommend this to any Ken Dodd fans and even if you’re not familiar with Ken’s comedy (as if there’s anyone who hadn’t seen at least some of Ken’s acts!) this is a pleasurable insight into Ken’s life and work.