KEN Dodd is celebrating 60 glorious years in show business - and will be appearing at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion this Sunday, December 7.

To mark this mirth milestone, Globe columnist Peter Grant - who edited Ken's picture biography 'Look At It My Way' - presents a fun fest of Doddy facts.

Ken's middle name is Arthur.

He was awarded the OBE in 1982 for services to show business and charity. 

There is a statue of Ken at Liverpool's Lime Street station meeting Bessie Braddock. 

He still lives in his childhood home in Knotty Ash.

An accident as a child stopped him from pursuing his love of the saxophone.

He is an accomplished ventriloquist. His first 'dummy pal' was called Charlie Brown.

Ken's 1965 record 'Tears' is one of the UK's biggest-selling singles of all time.

His other hits from a golden collection of singles include 'Love is Like a Violin' and 'Happiness.'

Ken says his influences in comedy are 'The Gagfathers' : Arthur Askey, Ted Ray, Rob Wilton, Tommy Handley and Max Miller.

He also loves American comedians such as Bob Hope. Lucille Ball ad Kelsey Grammer of Frasier fame.

He has a variety of catchphrases such as: "How Tickled I 'ham" and "What a day for..."

Doddy, as he is affectionately known, has never written a biography, but his book called 'Look At it My Way' is an album of his favourite photographs from his sparkling career.

Ken once played Malvolio in the Liverpool Playhouse production of Twelfth Night.

He has incredible collection of books on humour and what makes us laugh.

He once played a record-breaking of 42 sold-out weeks at the London Palladium

He is president of the Good Turns Society, which raises money for charities

Throughout his award-winning career, Ken has appeared in The Good Old Days; Dr Who; Alice in Wonderland and Kenneth Brannagh's Hamlet. His "An Audience With..." shows for LWT were the biggest ratings-winners in the popular ITV series.

BBC2 once dedicated a whole evening to Ken Dodd.

He has edited his own newspaper 'Tickle Times' which feature his creation the Diddymen who run the jam butty mines and snuff quarry.

He still plays the length and breath of the country with a real variety show that usually last a plumptious five hours.

Merseyside audiences will be able to see his Happiness show at the Theatre Royal on October 24; Southport Theatre on November 15; New Brighton Pavilion on December 7, and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on December 28 and 29.

And in 2015 it all starts up again.

By Jove!

Happy jolly jubilee Ken - from all at the Wirral Globe.