Ken Dodd: Look At It My Way

by Ken Dodd

Doddy - as he is affectionately known - has had books written about him before by people who have never met this legendary and yet very private comedian. Now, for the first time, the Squire of Knotty Ash gives a rare insight into his life of laughter talking about how tickled he has been on and off stage and who and what inspires him. A must souvenir for any fan of this comic genius who lights up all of our lives. The book will be promoted at venues on Ken Dodd's tours covering the length and breadth of UK from January to December each and every year. FROM his debut performance in 1958 to London Palladium and household name status, one-time ventriloquist Ken Dodd OBE, brings joy and laughter to millions. He appeals to all ages with his own creation, the delightful Diddymen, as well as his variety shows including his singing and most off all his trademark rapid joke telling. His career has spanned radio, stage, film and TV appearances and he is one of the most successful recording stars

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2009

About the author

Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE (born Liverpool, 8 November 1927) is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his trademark which is the feather duster (or "tickling stick") as well as his buck teeth and frizzy hair, and his catchphrases, often playing on the 'tickled' motif, e.g.: "How tickled I am!". He works mainly in the music hall tradition, although, in the past, has occasionally appeared in drama, including as Malvolio in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night on stage in Liverpool in 1971; on television in the cameo role of 'The Tollmaster' in the 1987 Doctor Who story Delta and the Bannermen; and as Yorick (in silent flashback) in Kenneth Branagh's film version of Shakespeare's Hamlet in 1996. In total he has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. In the 1960s his fame was such that he rivalled The Beatles as a household name. Dodd has alsohad many recording hits, charting on nineteen occasions in the UK Top 40.

In December 2004, Dodd was in Nottingham to be presented with a framed playbill after a sell out performance at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham to celebrate his fifty years in show business. Dodd's first professional performance was on stage at the Empire Theatre, Nottingham in 1954.

In a 2005 poll of comedians and comedy insiders to find 'The Comedian's 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 feather duster was unveiled in Lime Street Station, Liverpool on 11 June 2009.

Dodd was made an honorary fellow of The University of Chester on 4 November 2009, having been awarded 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.

Reviews

[Tim Roast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a biography. It is a cavalcade of crackpottery.

It is mainly a picture book with pictures split across the following sections:
* Early Days
* Before the Show
* It's Showtime!
* Out & About
* Statues & Honours
* Interval
* My Home Town
* Celebrity Friends
* Comedy Heroes
* By Royal Appointment
* Dressing Up In Costume
* Star of Stage & Screen
* Doddy TV Star
* The Singer
* Doddy & Diddymen
* The Bookworm
* Family & Friends
* Ken at Home
* Encore!

There are some forewords and some commentary from Ken along the way too, including jokes of course.

It leaves you with a smile on your face.