Tickling sticks and Diddymen help give Sir Ken Dodd a colourful send-off
Thousands lined the route to Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral which was full for the comedian’s funeral.
Thousands have gathered to say a final “tatty bye” to much-loved comedian Sir Ken Dodd.
Stars including Jimmy Tarbuck, Les Dennis, Roy Chubby Brown, Claire Sweeney, Ricky Tomlinson, Tom O’Connor, Stephanie Cole, Miriam Margolyes and Stan Boardman joined former BBC chairman and ITV executive chairman Lord Michael Grade and former BBC director general Lord John Birt as well as fans, family and dignitaries at Liverpool Cathedral to pay their final respects to the comic, who died at his home in Knotty Ash earlier this month aged 90.
Fans had lined the streets as a horse-drawn carriage bearing his coffin, with a bouquet of yellow sunflowers atop and one of his famous trademark Diddymen, made its way from Knotty Ash to the cathedral.
Tarbuck described him as “perhaps our city’s greatest hero”.
He said: “I’m pleased for Ken there’s yet another full house.”
He added: “He sang Happiness because he gave happiness.”
Irish comic Jimmy Cricket paid tribute to “one of the most different, original, innovative and gifted comedians”.
He said: “Ken always said his gift, his talents, were from God and comedians like Ken, they only come once in a lifetime.
“We thank God today that he came during our lifetime.”
She said: “Both introduced us to universes we could not have imagined, both had very original notions of time.”
Close friend and author John Fisher described Sir Ken as a “joking, jumping, singing, skipping, verbal, visual whirlwind of laughter”.
He said: “Ken Dodd was, no contest, the complete comedian, our greatest entertainer. But he was more. He was a life-enhancing force of nature.”
Tributes were also paid by his great-nephew and godson Alex Otley and friend Peter Rogan.
Acting dean of Liverpool Canon Myles Davies said the service was a wonderful tribute to someone who has spent his life persuading us all to exercise our chuckle muscles”.
In reference to the length of the comedian’s shows, he joked that the congregation would not “be missing the last bus home” after the funeral, although the service did run for 30 minutes longer than expected.
A private interment was due to follow the ceremony.
