OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Ken Dodd received his knighthood on Thursday (02.03.17).
The 89-year-old veteran comedian from Knotty Ash in Liverpool, was honoured by Prince William at Buckingham Palace for outstanding his career his dedication to his art and his charity work.
Sir Ken – who found fame playing Diddy Men characters in the 60s and is known for his unruly hair and protruding teeth and his red, white and blue “tickling stick” – quipped that he felt “highly tickled” to be knighted by the Duke of Cambridge.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: “Being a Sir is a curious feeling … I feel the same. But It’s lovely for my family and friends. I’m delighted and highly tickled.”
The celebrated performer – who is now officially named Sir Ken Dodd – became popular in the 60s in the UK with his recording of Tears’, which was the UK’s third-best-selling single back then, rivalling The Beatles.
Sir Ken, who became an OBE in 1982, is still seen touring the country with shows which are famous for going on well past the curtain call.
Talking about his passion for performing live, he said: “One of the happiest things is the joy and pleasure it brings to your family and friends and then you say to yourself it is a great honour and I just hope I’ll be worthy of it.”
And he has vowed to continue performing despite turning 90 in November.
He said: “I won’t hang up my tickling stick up, till I have to.”