Kenn Dodd, like Norman Wisdom and Bruce Forsyth and many others now no longer with us, was part of my youth. In the 1950s television was not widely watched in the UK and we only had BBC (just the one channel - BBC2 didn't arrive until 1964) in our area until 1958 when ITV through Television Wales and the West (TWW) began. Consequently, most of the entertainment was still via the wireless as it was called then.
Even into the early 60s I remember Doddy more as a radio comedian than a televisioon one although he was making his mark in the latter medium by then. Not only was he a zany and unique comedian (unique is a widely over-used word but he merited it) but he had a superb singing voice with perhaps his most famous songs being the sentimental Tears For Souvenirs* and the jolly, get-up-and-go Happiness.
*The third best-selling record of the 1960s in Britain, beaten only by two Beatles songs.
He was never offensive in his act and didn't need to use foul language, unlike so many modern so-called comedians. He was a master of the double entendre though, but used apparently so innocently that maiden aunts and the like were oblivious.
I always liked his snappy 'Beautiful Day' one-liners which invariably had those double meanings. For example:
"What a beautiful day. What a beautiful day for shoving a cucumber through the old lady's letter box and shouting that the Martians are coming".
Written down it's not that funny but he had the immaculate timing and delivery of a great comedian.
As Kevin mentioned, his stage shows could go on all night. It was said they were timed by the calendar not by the clock.
One of Britain's truly greatest ever comedy entertainers - one with the bonus of a beautiful singing voice - has sadly left us. I never saw him perform in a theatre which is a huge regret. May He Rest In Peace.
