Veteran comedian Ken Dodd pulled off another of his legendary marathon shows before a packed Civic Hall in Wolverhampton.

The 81-year-old came on stage at 7pm and did not leave until 10 past midnight, stopping to shake hands with fans at the end. And the full house crowd only thinned by about a third after around 11pm.

It was the self-styled Squire of Notty Ash’s 16th show in the city in 12 years but the 2,000-strong audience showed no sign of being tired of his visits.

The wild-haired comedian, famed for his tickling sticks, was performing his Christmas Happiness Show accompanied by a magician, children and a singer.

Before he went on stage he told the Express & Star he had a genuine love of Black Country humour.

He said: “I’m a great admirer of Aynuk and Ayli and Tommy Mundon. I enjoy visiting Wolverhampton – the people are good sports, they let me make a joke of their accents because they’re laughing at mine. Liverpudlians like me talk funny.

“I love coming to the Midlands and the reason I go on so long is I just get stage struck, I love performing.”

He added his show was good clean fun. “There’s no swearing in my show,” he said. “If I hit my hand with a hammer in the shed I’ll shout flippin’ ’eck, or words to that effect. “It’s an honour and a duty to deliver these laughs and at Christmas I’m like Santa Claus with a tickling stick.”

Jan Bakewell, aged 50, from Coleshill, said she and her family had wanted to see Ken perform for years. 

She said: “We are finally fulfilling a lifelong ambition.”

Alan and Margaret Bate, from Miles Meadow Close, New Invention, first saw Doddy as teenagers. Mrs Bate, aged 62, said: “I saw him on holiday in Great Yarmouth when I was 16. He’s still so funny.”

DIY store sales rep Marilyn Turner from Ashmore Avenue, Wolverhampton, came along with husband John. The 53-year-old said: “He’s fantastic. It’s just the way he looks as he tells his jokes, no-one else could copy him.” Neighbours John Miller and Steve Swift from Daisy Bank Crescent, Walsall, said the star was “everlasting”.