Doddy to tickle 'em pink in Dud-lay
It seems Black Country audiences just can't get enough of veteran comic Ken Dodd who has announced he will be returning to Dudley in February.
The audience can expect another five-hour marathon show at the town's concert hall and for his latest performance the venue has brought forward the start time by 30 minutes.
Halls and venues manager Peter Jordan said Doddy, aged 83, had been coming to Dudley since "the year dot".
He said: "Ken Dodd seems to really enjoy coming to Dudley because the audience are so responsive. He does take the mickey out of our accent but people don't seem to mind. The humour is clean and family-orientated so any age can come to the show.
"A lot of people do keep coming every year but there is a core of new people he attracts. It is generally a mature audience." Tickets for the 1,000-seater venue in St James's Road are expected to sell fast.
Mr Jordan added: "He is 83 now and will not be entertaining forever and a day so it's well worth booking.
"The shows are so long, I expect some people do bring their sandwiches and it is a challenge to stay until the end." He continued: "He is very easy to deal with as long as he gets a warm dressing room and a cup of tea."
The legendary entertainer, who used to perform at Dudley's old Hippodrome, will be back for a one-off date on February 13. For tickets call the box office on 01384 812812 or visit www.dudley.gov.uk/enter tainment
Earlier this year faithful fans were left tickled pink by his epic performance. He reeled off around 2,000 jokes and songs for a delighted packed house. Doddy was on stage for nearly four hours of the five hours and 20 minutes of the Happiness Show, featuring ventriloquist's dummy Dicky Mint and magicians Amethyst.
It was obvious the crowd, both young and old, loved his humour from the moment he came on stage waving his tickling sticks and beating his drum.
His love of Dudley shone through and made him the darling of the crowd. While Bloxwich became the butt of many one-liners, "Dud-lay", as he pronounced it, is a place he loves to return to again and again.
He told the Express & Star: "I try only to play the places I like, where we're all made welcome. Dudley is right at the top of the list."
