KEN DODD returns to the Theatre Royal on Thursday, December 11 to dispense very liberal doses of his very special Xmas tickle-tonic!

"Young man! It's wonderful to be back in St Helens and the lovingly restored Theatre Royal", he tells me in an exclusive interview. "Beautiful theatres should be looked after and kept alive so that the public can cherish and enjoy them. I've been entertaining for almost 50 years, and it is always a joy to come back here.

"Not only is the theatre a fabulous jewel in the St Helens crown, but the Theatre Royal audiences are among the very best in the country. They love to come out and forget their cares and worries for a couple of hours (at least!) by having a good laugh.

"Which is just as well, because if anyone comes in miserable we won't let them out again until they're laughing their heads off! I've been doing research into laughter and have uncovered some fascinating facts. For instance, did you know that a laugh is something that comes out of a hole in your face? Anywhere else and you're in big trouble!"

Ken became a professional entertainer in 1954 and, just a little over 10 years later, and without the back-up of TV exposure, he made his debut at the famous London Palladium - where he enjoyed an unprecedented record-breaking 42-week sell-out season.

In 1965 he knocked The Beatles from No.1 spot in the charts with 'Tears' and stayed there for six weeks. Today it occupies 10th place in the Top 20 best-selling records of all time. His other hits include 'Love Is Like A Violin' and his signature tune 'Happiness'.

Hectic schedule

Singing still plays a prominent part in his stage act today. His amazing vocal range takes in everything from the classics to pop music and even grand opera.

But it is his undoubted genius as a comedian that stamps Ken Dodd out as a showbiz legend. Away from his hectic touring schedule, he has recently become the first recipient of the prestigious 'Living Legend' award from The British Comedy Society. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the British Comedy Awards and has been voted The Greatest Merseysider of all time -relegating John Lennon and Paul McCartney into joint runner-up spot.

Doddy has been a bill-topper throughout his entire career and has starred in countless Royal Variety Shows and in sell-out record-breaking seasons at theatres like the London Palladium and Blackpool Opera House.

On television and radio he's enjoyed his own series, been honoured in a special one-hour 'This Is Your Life' tribute, and his hugely successful 'An Audience With Ken Dodd' TV special, has recently been followed with the equally successful 'Another Audience With Ken Dodd'. Both have become best-selling videos that have earned him Platinum and Double Platinum awards.

He's played Malvolio in 'Twelfth Night', Yorrick in Kenneth Branagh's epic film version of 'Hamlet' and Mr Mouse in the Hollywood film of 'Alice In Wonderland'.

Ken was awarded the OBE in 1982 for his services to showbusiness and charity. He was the first member of the TV Times 'Hall Of Fame' and, in addition to being a Freeman of the City Of Liverpool, he is also an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University.

And despite his constant touring (he clocks up a staggering 100,000 miles every year) he has no plans to hang up his famous tickling stick just yet. In fact, he's non-plussed at the very thought of it.

"I've never even thought about retirement! Why should I when I love every second of doing my job? Anyway, it's not really a job. I've been doing it for nearly 50 years now and it's more like a hobby, because I love it so much. I'm very lucky to be doing what I want to do - and being paid for it at the same time.

"There have been lots of changes in lifestyle over the years, but one thing remains the same - audiences still go to a theatre wanting to be entertained. They come to my shows in search of happiness and that's what I try to give them, with humour aimed at all the family. Age is no barrier: young, old, male, female. They all want a good old-fashioned laugh.

"When I go on stage I'm talking to people as individuals, not one great mass. You have to relate to every single person in an audience. You play them like you would play a violin or a piano. Collectively an audience is big and challenging, but you must never lose sight of the fact that it is made up of individuals.

"I'm lucky because I never get tired of entertaining and making people laugh" he concludes. "Well, I do sometimes, but it doesn't last for long! I think I've only had one day off in my entire career - and that was for suspected pneumonia. I was back on stage the next night with a mustard patch on my chest. The doctor insisted that I wore it, but all the stagehands kept rubbing their ham sandwiches on it, so it had to go!

"As long as people keep coming to my shows and laughing their heads off, then I will continue touring this great country of ours. It's my love. It's my life and I enjoy every single minute of it. And, by Jove, they can't touch you for it!"