Ken Dodd: Last News

Crowds "clapped and cheered" as the life of an unloved shopping precinct came to a dramatic end.

Carol Smillie's career has spanned over decades, firstly as a model before leaping into television.

Peter Kay, 49, has lamented the “backlash” caused by "cancel culture" nowadays when he appeared on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show yesterday.The star’s comments on BBC Radio 2 come as fans continue to take to Twitter today to complain about difficulties with booking tickets for his upcoming tour. Peter and Zoe, 51, were co-presenting her BBC show following the comedian’s exciting announcement that he would be going on tour after 12 years of absence from the stand-up scene. Ever the funnyman, Peter played a game with Zoe which involved listening out for commonly misheard lyrics in songs.One song that the pair played for Radio 2 listeners was You Get What You Give by New Radicals.The lead singer Gregg Alexander can be heard singing the lyric “what’s real can’t die”. However, Peter pointed out that the “can’t die” sounded remarkably similar to the name of Liverpudlian comedian Sir Ken Dodd.“Hang on, it’s coming up now - Ken Dodd,” Peter said in time with the music, as Zoe burst out laughing. “It goes on for ages! He must be a fan of Ken Dodd, he just shouts it out randomly,” Peter joked.“It’s so true! Like the Diddymen,” Zoe said in reference to the mythical race made famous by comedic legend Ken. The Diddymen have existed in Merseyside mythology for years and refer to a miniature race of people.While they started as an unseen joke, the characters eventually went on to appear onstage with the comedian, and were played by either children or adults with dwarfism.“Oh, you can’t say that now,” Peter told Zoe about the reference, “No, it’s not allowed.” “Oh, is it not?” Zoe said in a hushed tone. “No,” Peter reiterated as the song continued to play.“Can’t say anything!” Peter said.

Helen Skelton has laughed off claims her past dance experience give her an advantage as she prepared to take part in Strictly Come Dancing. The Countryfile host is among the 15 celebrities who have signed up for the BBC One dance contest's 2022 series which starts next Sunday (September 17).

The Countryfile and former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton, who is in the lineup for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, won a tap-dancing competition as a teenager – but has insisted she cannot dance. When asked to reveal a little known secret about herself in an unearthed 2016 interview, Skelton replied: “I won a Ken Dodd tap-dance award when I was 17. “Not a lot of people know this, but I’m very good at tap-dancing.

Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton is one of many celebrities taking to the Strictly Come Dancing stage ahead of the show returning later this year.

Strictly Come Dancing. The line-up of celebrities taking part in the long-running BBC dance competition was revealed earlier this month. Among them is Helen Skelton, the former Blue Peter presenter who is joining the series months after splitting for her husband, Richie Myler, reports the Mirror.

Strictly Come Dancing - despite winning a tap award named after Ken Dodd.The 39-year-old Countryfile presenter is set to appear on this year's series of the hit BBC One dancing show, which returns next month.It comes after her recent marriage split from rugby star Richie Myler back in April this year.READ MORE: Inside Helen Skelton's net worth and marriage as Countryfile star announces StrictlyLast week, Helen said people keep asking her if she can already dance, before claiming she couldn't and that you sign up to the show to learn your way around the ballroom.She told BBC's radio 5 Live: "People keep saying, ‘Can you dance?’ and I say, ‘No’ because isn’t it the point to learn to dance?"However, she bagged a prestigious Ken Dodd tap dancing award 22 years ago when she was just a teenager.When asked to reveal a secret about herself in 2016, Helen said: "I won a Ken Dodd tap-dance award when I was 17."The Cumbrian star later added: "Not a lot of people know this, but I’m very good at tap dancing.

STRICTLY star Helen Skelton was a Diddy bit out of step when she insisted she can’t dance — because she once won a tap award named after Ken Dodd. The TV presenter, who will be in the new series which starts next month, waltzed off with comic legend Doddy’s gong when she was a teenager.

HELEN Skelton has dropped a huge hint about who her pro partner will be on this series of Strictly. The TV presenter, 39, decided to follow Neil Jones over the weekend – the only dancer out of the cast – and he swiftly returned the favour.

Cilla Black was one of the most iconic British celebrities ever to grace our airwaves and screens.Born in Liverpool on May 27 1943, the legend started out as a singer in 1963 before going on to enjoy an incredible career of over 50 years in showbiz - where she received an OBE in 1997 for her services to entertainment.In the later years of her career, she became a famous TV presenter, hosting hit shows like Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and The Moment of Truth. Read More: Cilla Black and Ken Dodd gravestones vandalised with 'offensive' graffitiAfter securing multiple number one singles during her career, she also cemented her status as a beloved TV personality amid appearances on ITV's Loose Women.Sadly, Cilla passed away on August 1 2015 at the age of 72 - after being found dead by her eldest son Robert on the terrace of her luxury Spanish holiday home in the Costa del Sol, Spain.A haunting BAFTAs speech in 2014 saw Cilla predict her own death as she joked with the crowd while discussing Sheridan Smith's role in her life documentary: "Maybe I should die next year".She was honoured with the BAFTA Special award in 2014 and got a standing ovation as she stepped up to accept it from friend Paul O'Grady.At the time Cilla said: "My life is flashing before me. It's a great honour, as is getting the BAFTA, that somebody in your own lifetime plays you."Sheridan Smith is a BAFTA-winning actress herself and I feel so honoured and so pleased.

Doctor Who exhibition has revealed that iconic rock group The Beatles almost made appearance in the series - and that they could have come face to face with the Daleks.Doctor Who: Worlds Of Wonder made its world premiere at National Museums Liverpool today (May 26, 2022), and explores the science behind the long-running BBC series - as well as revealing its links to the city and showcasing props and costumes from the popular programme.It also explored the celebrity cameo that was not meant to be, after The Beatles were tipped to play themselves in one of first doctor William Hartnell's adventures back in 1965.The fab four planned to play elderly versions of themselves from 1996 in serial The Chase, which featured the Daleks, but the idea was not approved by their manager Brian Epstein at the time.However, fans still got to see the group make a virtual cameo in the episode, after a clip of their Top Of The Pops performance was broadcast on the Tardis' time-space visualiser - with the doctor and his companions watching them sing Ticket To Ride.In a bizarre real life coincidence, the episode also made reference to a Beatles museum in 25th century Liverpool - with the city today having its own Beatles Experience Museum, as well as numerous tours and venues dedicated to the group.It is just one of many stories explored in the new exhibition, which features links to Liverpool actors including doctors Tom Baker and Paul McGann, as well as stars including Elisabeth Sladen and Ken Dodd.The must-see immersive exhibition takes fans on a journey through the Tardis doors, where they will learn more about the science that inspired the stories - from regeneration, to blackholes and wormholes, and our environment.It also features

READ MORE: M&S departure could cast a light on forgotten part of city centre Cilla Black Cilla Black was buried just feet from her parents’ graves with a headstone that describes her as a “devoted mother and grandmother”. The Surprise! Surprise! star died from a stroke at her villa in Spain in August 2015 after losing her balance and falling while sunbathing, aged 72. Her headstone at Allerton Cemetery carries her name ‘Cilla Black OBE’ above the single word: “Singer”.

tributes from friends and fellow stars of the entertainment world, who fondly remembered the humorous and generous star.However, Sir Ken's kindness has continued to be felt long after his death after he left a huge fortune in his will to local services and charities.Following Sir Ken Dodd's death, it was revealed that the comedy legend had left an estimated £27.2 million in his will, to his wife Lady Ann Dodd.However, it was Ken's wish that his fortune was to be used to give back to local services and communities in Liverpool.Speaking to Liverpool Echo, Lady Ann Dodd said: "Ken loved to make people laugh – it was his life, not just a job."He had no desire for the trappings of wealth and it was his wish that the majority of his estate will go to charities close to his heart, many of them local."As his wife, beneficiary of his estate, and also knowing the contents of the will he made some years ago, I will be able to honour his wishes."At the time of his death, Lady Ann revealed that plans were already in place for money from Sir Ken's estate to be donated to services such local theatre projects, hospitals and to refurbish a church hall in his hometown of Knotty Ash, Liverpool.Lady Ann also explained that she would continue the work of the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, for which she is a trustee.A wide variety of services and charities have benefited from the huge fortune that Sir Ken Dodd left in his will, including The Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, where the star was treated before he died.He was also a patron of Clatterbridge Hospital, and supported a number of health related charities, with Lady Ann Dodd telling Daily Mail: "Ken was also a great supporter of our hospitals, and the Foundation will look to help

Beatles recording worth £10,000 while clearing out his father's house after he died. Derek Plant found the original copy of the White Album track 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' in a Ken Dodd record sleeve which he was about to dispose of.Liverpool Echo reports that Derek's dad Harry ended up with it after buying a box of old records at a car boot fair 40 years ago.

Lady Anne had been with the comedian for about 40 years after first dating in the 1970s.They only tied the knot, though, in March 2018, two days before Sir Ken died following a chest infection aged 90.Now, in an intimate biography, Lady Anne offers a fascinating insight into their relationship. According to the Liverpool Echo, the widow said: "We didn’t get married until right at the end. "The wedding was one of those things we’d always intended to do.

How tickled Sir Ken Dodd would have been to see wide-eyed tot Raees Hassan smiling back at him today.

Sir Ken Dodd travelled 100,000 miles a year at the height of his career. And for over four decades there was one person at his side every show – his right-hand woman and long-time girlfriend Lady Anne.

Gazing down at her wedding ring, a lifetime of memories flash before Lady Anne Dodd’s eyes.

showbiz legends Cilla Black and Ken Dodd's gravestones by scrawling 'offensive' graffiti on their headstones. On Monday night, the yobs defaced the graves of the two Scouse celebs at their resting place in Allerton Cemetery,Liverpool.

Morecambe and Wise would be disappointed by how TV has changed, according to a pal.Terry Ravenscroft, who penned gags for the late double act, reckons comedy isn’t a patch on the stuff that aired years ago because it’s so PC these days.He said: “I don’t think much of comedy on TV now. There isn’t anything like the stuff I used to do.“Morecambe and Wise would be a bit disappointed by the way comedy has gone, really.“I can’t think of any sketch shows.