A laughter-packed evening is guaranteed with comic genius Doddy, writes Andy Richardson.

Ken Dodd is absolutely discumknockerated – that’s Knotty Ash speak for “over the moon”.

He’s bringing his famous Happiness Show to Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn tomorrow and Thursday and both shows have long been sold out.

The gigs are part of his virtually non-stop tour that has been running since 1954. Though he’s been in showbusiness for 55 years, he still loves nothing better than making audiences laugh.

“Laughter is the greatest music in the world, and people come to my shows wanting to be entertained and to escape the cares and worries of everyday life for a couple of hours,” says Ken.

“They certainly don’t want to be embarrassed or insulted with below-the-belt humour. They want to laugh and have a good night out – and so do I, which is probably why it works!

“Did you know that a laugh is something that comes out of a hole in your face? Anywhere else and you’re in trouble!!”

Ken’s 55 years in comedy make him well placed to assess the great comedy talents who have tickled the nation’s funnybone down the years. He has his own comedy heroes, who have made him laugh out loud over the years.

“I suppose you could say that I have been spoiled,” he says.

“I was fortunate to have grown up with comedy heroes like Arthur Askey, Ted Ray, Robb Wilton, Tommy Handley, Billy Bennett and the great comics of that era.

“They were followed by the likes of Tommy Cooper and Morecambe & Wise. All were legendary funnymen with natural ability and lots of warmth. Comedy should never be over-analysed. It is either funny or it isn’t. There is a subtle difference between those who say funny things and those who say things funny.”

So, how does he think the comedy of today differs from that of yesterday?

“There was more art to comedy years ago. Comics were masters of their craft. Today there are precious few places to learn that craft, and far too much emphasis is placed on vulgar material. Sadly swearing is being passed off as comedy.”

Dodd is now 81, a time at which many have long since slowed down. But age has not wearied his desire to hit the road. He clocks up around 100,000 miles a year on his theatre tour. His penchant for touring is not the only thing that has stood the test of time. He still lives in the very house in which he was born, a rambling 17th-Century Georgian farmhouse in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash. It is filled with happy memories.

“I couldn’t live anywhere else,” he adds.

“I was lucky to have had an idyllic upbringing filled with love and happiness. As a family we went to the theatre regularly, and I was one of those lads who was always digging holes and falling into them, or climbing trees and falling out of them.

“Me, my brother Billy and sister June loved going to the theatre with mum and dad. The variety shows were our favourites, especially the annual pantomimes.

“That’s when I became stage-struck, or struck by the stage. I’ll never forget the year when mum and dad bought me my own ventriloquist’s doll. It was magical. I christened him Charlie Brown, learned how to throw my voice, and started doing impromptu shows for all my pals.

“Later I had my own Punch & Judy Show and would entertain at charity shows or garden fetes. Is it any wonder that I eventually entered show business?”

Despite his grounding, Ken was a comparative late starter in entertainment. He and brother Billy helped his father, Arthur, in the family coal business. Then Ken worked semi-professional to supplement his earnings as a door-to-door salesman in Merseyside.

He had his own van and sold household goods around the local housing estates, but he also entertained on a semi-professional basis and his reputation as a comedian was growing all the time.

Eventually he turned professional in 1954 and made his stage debut at the old Nottingham Empire. In those days he loved daft billings like: Professor Yaffle Chucklebutty – Operatic Tenor and Sausage Knotter.

Just a little over 10 years later, and without the back-up of TV exposure, he made his debut at the famous London Palladium where he enjoyed an unprecedented record-breaking 42 week sell-out season.

He did another sell-out Palladium season in the early 1990s, and more recently he starred in a special tribute show called A Celebration of Laughter With Ken Dodd & Friends, which generated funds for the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund.

His success as a top-of-the-bill comedian has been enhanced by his singing career. In 1965 he knocked The Beatles from No 1 spot in the record charts with Tears and stayed there for several weeks. Today, that song occupies a place in the Top 20 best-selling records of all time. His string of hits include Love Is Like A Violin and his famous signature tune Happiness.

But surely he must occasionally think about hanging up his famous tickling stick and taking things easy?

“How dare you!” he says in mock indignation.

“I’ve never even thought about retirement. Why should I when I love every second of doing my job? Anyway, it’s not really a job. I’ve been doing it for over 50 years now and it’s more like a hobby, because I love it so much. I’m very lucky to be doing what I want to do – and being paid for it at the same time!”