Ken Dodd, Poole Lighthouse (From Daily Echo)

Ken Dodd, Poole Lighthouse

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By Jove Missus! If you imagined Ken Dodd at 81 might start to shorten his shows think again.

Despite some asthmatic coughing at the outset with quips, “I knew I should have paid the Congestion Charge” his marathon performance lasted a full five hours and he was still fired up for more.

“Don’t worry- there will be plenty of milk floats to go home on, “he warned adding that boys had been known to grow out of short trousers during his shows!

As the hours went by the stage struck star seemed only to gain more energy and exuberance, driven on by the roar of the crowd.

With his sticky-up hair and sticky-out teeth, his wide expressive eyes and infectious smile he was on a mission to give his best.

Advancing years was a fruitful topic and he was often self-mocking: “When we arrived in our van this afternoon all the Lighthouse staff came out and cheered…they thought we were from Dino Rod!”

And: “I was only three when I won my first beauty contest- all the other dogs went mad! The jokes relating to his trial for tax evasion, as ever, caused raucous laughter.

With his split second timing there were quick- fire gags that leave you gasping for breath between laughs, and longer, colourful story telling gags that build up to deafening laughter.

But Ken relies on extraordinary acting skills too. The facial expressions, voices and mannerisms bring all his characters to life, from a leg and lip quivering Elvis, to a lusty house wife in a see through “neglected” or negligee.

His singing had the entire audience singing along, from his signature tune Happiness to his tear-jerking Absent Friends and he gave us the finest ventriloquism with Dickey Mint.

In Doddy speak Ken is “never skinny with it”. He is the most bountiful and generous of performers and Poole recognized this with a standing ovation.