REVERED as one of Britain’s funniest comedians, Ken Dodd has enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 50 years during which he has received numerous awards and accolades.

Doddy now makes his annual pilgrimage to Bournemouth with his famous Happiness Show at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on March 30.

Besides non-stop touring, he has been seen in his own TV and radio series, and specials including ITV’s often-repeated An Audience With Ken Dodd and an hour-long This Is Your Life tribute. In addition to his comic career, he’s enjoyed success as a singer, with chart-topping hits including Tears, which still today occupies a place in the top 20 best-selling records of all time.

His numerous showbiz honours include the first ever Living Legend Award from the British Comedy Society, a Lifetime Achievement in the British Comedy Awards and in his home city of Liverpool he is immortalised in bronze, complete with trademark feather duster, at Lime Street station.

The 85-year-old says: “As long as people keep coming to my shows and laughing their heads off then I will continue touring this great country of ours. It’s my love. It’s my life and I enjoy every single minute of it.”