Ken Dodd: An Audience with Ken Dodd

Watching a Ken Dodd performance makes me despair for current comedians. It's not just an age-related thing; Doddy is simply head and shoulders above the fashionable modern brigade, with their sarcasm, wokism, and general unpleasantness. Ken's timing is impeccable, and his connection with the audience too. He gives the impression of his act being off-the-cuff, but I feel certain that every word and gesture is perfectly rehearsed.

My home is on the Isle of Man, and Ken's visits to our lovely little theatre (the Gaiety) were the highlight of the year for many of us. He is terribly missed and irreplaceable.

Stand-up has been popularised in recent years, but contemporary comics can take lessons from Ken at his best in this fast-moving, wise cracking tour de force, marking his 40th anniversary in show business.

The celebrity audience were literally rolling in the aisles, Dame Hilda Brackett reduced to Tears - ironically, Doddy's 60's sentimental hit, not repeated here.

The theme was chuckle bones, tattifalarious laughter and insouciant gags, confirming him as the number 1 jester of his generation. Like Tommy Cooper, the delivery was more important than the substance - although the content included what he called "innocent humour" of playground jokes, playfully condemning darker sarcastic and satirical wit. No, he's not Stephen Fry, but his quickfire delivery, mastery of timing and ability to bounce off the audience, some of whom sadly no longer with us, marked and inspirational performer whose ability to impart happiness by word, wit, ventriloquy and song will always be appreciated.

He is the quintessential essence of British - not just Liverpudlian - humour. Moulding himself into a granny, leaving a party early after imbibing several drinks, refused a last snowball in case she attacks the host with it. A great comedian captured at his best.