Only fooling (From The Northern Echo)

Only fooling

5:41pm Thursday 24th September 2009

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At 81, Ken Dodd is back at Darlington Civic Theatre next month and the sold-out signs are ready to be rolled out for another appearance. He tells Viv Hardwick why he won’t retire.

POLITICAL correctness doesn’t really apply to a comic, argues top funnyman Ken Dodd. “The PC business is a joke in itself. A comedian is the end product of a system which previously brought us music hall comics, Before them there were jesters and before that it was clowns.

“Clowns and jesters have always had what is called a ‘fool’s licence’ which you don’t get from me, you get it from the town hall. The jester can joke about things that ordinary people cannot or dare not. That’s the way it was, now everybody has a go,” says the 81-year-old who plays Darlington Civic Theatre on October 8 and 9.

Asked if he’s the last of the great old-style stand-ups, Dodd disagrees.

“No there’s lots of good comics and lots of new comedians coming up. You wouldn’t think so at times because television is terrified of comedy. TV try out new comedy shows like some people try out new girlfriends.

“They seem scared, but forget that most of the best series started out badly. When they stay with it, within half-a-dozen shows it turns into something useful. Now it’s all slam, bam thank you mam. You’re expected to be a hit overnight, but you can’t do that now,” says the evertouring man from Knotty Ash, Liverpool, who feels that comedy is a beautiful art and skill, but requires patience.

“It’s all to do with subtlety, timing and intonation. It’s like being a writer or a journalist, if you put the time in before you begin. If the foundation stones are in, then you stand a chance, but you’ve got to do the apprenticeship first,” he says.

So is there anyone from the next generation of comics that he thinks will stand a chance of following in his footsteps?

“There are some good ones, but you won’t see them on television. My kind of comedy, called mainstream, means I’m in the same category as my heroes Arthur Askey, Ted Ray, Rob Wilton. Les Dawson, Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Sandy Powell. They are all mainstream comedians. But television is run by schoolboys, it is really.

“You look at the average person who is commissioning the shows, they are straight out of college and their humour is always in the bottom half of their trousers. People don’t want to go to the theatre to be sworn at or hear obscene language or jokes you could hear in any dockside canteen. Blue jokes are fabulous, but have to be told by proper comedians who know how to wrap things up without embarrassing or offending people,” he adds.

Since Dodd turned professional in 1954 he’s been criss-crossing the country on tour and currently still manages 100,000 miles a year and plays to over 200 venues, usually with a “sold-out” sign on the door.

He confirms the rumour I’d heard that he once tried to always get home after each booking. “That was in the days when I performed at theatres for several days or a week and I really did want to go home. I do still travel back if it’s within a sensible distance,” explains the comics who has the reputation for being on stage until well after midnight.

And the accommodation he selects for overnight stops tends to reflect the thrifty nature which has helped to endear him to his audiences.

“I’m a huge fan of the Travelodge chain. It’s wonderful because we have a van-full of props and costumes with us and we can virtually park right outside the room. So why not use them,” he says.

The comic flatly denies the internet rumour that he’s been approached to make an appearance on BBC1’s EastEnders and rapidly switches from a cockney accent to best darkest Yorkshire sheep farmer to reply: “If I’d do anything it would be Emmerdale. Yes, I’m more like ol’ Fred on Emmerdale with muck on me boots.”

The one thing Dodd doesn’t joke about is retirement. He’s fought off all attempts to reduce his workload, including winning back theatres who suggested it was time to drop his bookings, so is it a matter of him deciding when he’s had enough?

“I’ll just keep going. While I have my health and strength I’ll just keep going. I love being in showbusiness. People love to laugh and that’s the most beautiful sound in the world.”

■ Ken Dodd Happiness Show, Darlington Civic Theatre, October 8 & 9, a few tickets are still available, £16.50-£18. Box Office: 01325-486-555 darlingtonarts.co.uk

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