After Dinner Speakers: Ken Dodd, Melanie Sykes, Lee Hurst

Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born in Liverpool in 1927. He grew up in Knotty Ash, a real district of the city, he later made famous in his acts. Turning professional in 1954, he did summer seasons in Blackpool in 1955 and 1956 topping the bill in 1958. These early performances got him appearances at the London Palladium and onto television. During the 1960’s and 1970’s he had numerous television series, including The Ken Dodd Show, Doddy's Music Box and Ken Dodd's Showbiz. His musical pedigree has been marked with such classic successes as Once In Every Lifetime and Happiness, songs that remain enduringly popular. Ken Dodd has continued to appear on television since the 1960s, principally as a comedian and as a children’s entertainer with his hilarious Diddymen of Knotty Ash. With his goofy teeth and unruly hair, Ken Dodd is a uniquely recognisable star.