'A life-enhancing force of nature'

Tributes to Sir Ken at his Liverpool funeral

The people of Liverpool have joined stars of stage and screen to say 'tatty-bye' to Sir Ken Dodd today.

Fans lined the six-mile route from the comedian's home in Knotty Ash to the city's Anglican cathedral, where his funeral took place.

Sir Ken Dodd leaves Knotty Ash for the final time as the funeral cortège heads to the Anglican Cathedral... #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/z2tQj19Lip
— CapitalLivNews (@CapitalLivNews) March 28, 2018

Tickling sticks were placed on the railings to control the crowds, and they also adorned the town hall and statues around Liverpool – including The Beatles':

Tickling sticks have been placed on statues in Liverpool ahead of Sir Ken Dodd's funeral. https://t.co/pPGGg07ZQi pic.twitter.com/LSwzv5Qipw
— BBC (@BBC) March 28, 2018

Tickling sticks on display at Liverpool Town Hall shows our affection for the one and only Sir Ken Dodd ahead of his funeral💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/7vTXRlKJmG
— Joe Anderson (@mayor_anderson) March 27, 2018

During the service, Jimmy Tarbuck said: 'Was he a good comic? No. He was better than that. He was the greatest stage comedian I ever saw in my life. It was an honour to watch him…. Live on stage, he set a standard that no one has remotely approached since.'

Sir Ken Dodd leaves Knotty Ash for the final time as the funeral cortège heads to the Anglican Cathedral... #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/z2tQj19Lip
— CapitalLivNews (@CapitalLivNews) March 28, 2018

Actress Stephanie Cole added: 'He was kind, he was thoughtful, he had a real wealth of knowledge… And always with a playful child inside him, never far away. I loved to talk to him about the mechanics of comedy and I learned so much from him.'

And Dodd's friend, the author and producer John Fisher, said: 'Ken Dodd was, no contest, the complete comedian, our greatest entertainer. But he was more. He was a life-enhancing force of nature. He was a fount of charity, kindness and bonhomie, and a loyal friend.'

After the ceremony, children dressed as his Diddymen characters followed the coffin out of the cathedral, as a sombre version of his theme tune Happiness was played on the organ:

Ken Dodd is carried out of the cathedral to rapturous applause followed by the diddymen as "happiness" is played pic.twitter.com/hZK7CEBlxV
— Sophie McCoid (@MccoidSophie) March 28, 2018

Speaking outside the cathedral, Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson said: 'He was a one-off. There was no one up there at the same level as Doddy was. He inspired everyone in Liverpool.'

And after the ceremony, Johnny Vegas tweeted: 'Well Doddy, as send off's go that was one the most touching & heartfelt that it has ever been my privilege to be witness to. The warmth & laughter that signified your life echoed throughout Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. You remain the very embodiment of happiness, RIP Dear Ken''

Sir Ken died earlier this month at the age of 90, in the home where he was born, marrying Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, on his deathbed.

• In a suitably farcical moment, while he was being interviewed live on Sky News, Jimmy Tarbuck was approached by a woman who asked: 'Are you Roy Hudd?'