“I’ve been round more times than an EP,” says Doddy.

“Most people have never heard of an EP but it stood for ‘extended play’ – it’s something you do when you are younger. When you get older you are more like a single with a crack in it.”

Doddy is nothing less than amazing. He is touring theatres in various parts of the country and skips onto stage every night carrying his famous Big Bass Drum to be greeted by cheers and standing ovations before he has even spoken.

“People are wonderful,” he says.

“Where would we be without people? I wouldn’t be standing here for a start! When I go on stage I feel totally at home. I love the theatre, I love a live audience – when you can find one! I love the music too.

“Bournemouth always has a wonderful live audience – at least they start off alive – a few nod off halfway through so if you are next to one at the Pavilion Theatre, give them a nudge.”

As well as comedy, Doddy is, of course, famous for his many million-selling records. So what does he have to say about today’s music?

“If music be the food of love... it’s no wonder I often get indigestion! It’s difficult to understand some of today’s lyrics. And what about all that thump-thumpthump stuff. It sounds like someone driving past in a washing machine! I love music of course but mostly I like the old songs - they don’t write romantic songs like Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour On The Bedpost Overnight? any more.”

Every autumn Ken Dodd can be seen at one of his favourite venues, the Blackpool Grand Theatre but for the rest of the year he travels from Bournemouth to Bridlington and London to Llandudno. Most nights he returns to his home in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash.

“I like to go home because I love Liverpool. I have lived here all my life and have never wanted to live anywhere else. In fact, I have lived in the same house all these years and that’s great because I have never had to move. They say it is one of the most traumatic times of your life moving house. Circus people must be under a lot of stress because they move every week.”

Doddy is at his very best in the theatre of course which is why another large crowd will flock to the Bournemouth Pavilion to see this genuine legend of show business.

“I love turning up at the theatre, getting ready in the dressing room and hearing the audience arrive and then hearing your music and getting out there onto the stage. I hope we can keep live entertainment going. I am not against television in fact there’s a little one-eyed idol to the north of our front room - that’s the telly and what a little box of tricks. It is a marvellous invention and takes us all over the world, into people’s homes - sometimes when they are not expecting it!

“What would we do without television? We’d spend more time listening to the Archers, that’s what we would do! I like some television and I like some radio but for me, a live show is the best show.”

It seems Doddy is going to be touring even past his 90th birthday in November.

“I’m never going to retire,” he says with absolute determination. “Why would I want to? I am enjoying myself. I have cut back a bit, the show is now only about five hours and I am not out every single night like I used to be but I still get the same thrill every time I go on stage and it seems that people still want to come and see me so I shall keep going for as long as possible.

“Anyway, I have more things to do yet. I have always liked circuses so I might become a daring young man on the flying trapeze – all right, a daring notso-young man on the flying trapeze. Another 10 years and I met get a telegram from the Queen or perhaps she will bring it to the theatre personally.

She’s a lovely lady and she knows all the words to Happiness!”

Happiness is a word that will for ever be associated with Ken Dodd.

“Wouldn’t it be marvellous if everybody on the planet was truly happy,” he says. “Surely the best use of our lives is to enhance other people’s lives, especially with laughter. A chuckle a day keeps the doctor away. Anyway, how can anyone retire from Happiness?”

  • Ken Dodd is performing at the Pavilion Theatre tonight