Happiness!

Step inside a treasure trove of laughter and nostalgia, featuring:

• Original stage costumes worn by Sir Ken Dodd
• Iconic props and memorabilia from his remarkable career
• Archive photographs, programmes and personal items
• Original puppets, including the infamous Dicky Mint
• Rare footage from Ken’s legendary live performances
• Exclusive extracts from Ken’s private notebooks, revealing the creative process behind his comedy
• An interactive Giggle Map charting the places, people and stories from his extraordinary touring life

Few performers are more closely associated with Blackpool than Ken Dodd. For more than six decades, audiences packed the town’s theatres to enjoy his famously marathon performances.

His connection to the resort extended far beyond the stage. From switching on the Blackpool Illuminations in 1966 to helping save Blackpool Grand Theatre in the 1970s and opening the Comedy Carpet in 2011, Ken’s affection for Blackpool remained strong throughout his life.

This exhibition celebrates that special relationship and explores why Blackpool always held such a treasured place in his heart.

Lady Dodd reflected on Ken’s lifelong love affair with Blackpool before being welcomed through a tickling stick guard of honour to officially open the doors to the exciting new exhibition.

She said: “How tickled I am to be here today to open Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition which celebrates the life and career of my husband Sir Ken. I remember Ken saying he played somewhere in Blackpool every year of his performing life and always referred to it as the show town of Britain. As you walk around this wonderful exhibition I hope you also share his passion for what he called feelgood comedy and performance – which was about spreading happiness, bringing joy and making his audiences forget their troubles for a while.”