Sir Ken Dodd’s widow Lady Anne Dodd has reflected on her wedding to the comic, which took place just two days before his death aged 90.
The couple had been together for 40 loving years before finally making the decision to make things official in 2018.
Looking back at their wedding and subsequent two day marriage, Anne recalled how their bittersweet day was ‘really sad, but it was also beautiful’ amid Ken’s ailing health.
Looking back: Sir Ken Dodd’s widow Lady Anne Dodd has reflected on her wedding to the comic, which took place just two days before his death aged 90 (pictured in 2018)
Discussing the experience, she told The Mirror: ‘It was very difficult because he was very poorly. When he was in hospital he’d been saying, “Look, when I come home, we must get married. We will do it in church when I’m better”. But, of course, he didn’t get better, so it had to be hastened.’
She went on: ‘It was really sad, but it was also beautiful. It was lovely to hear him say his vows and me say mine. He said it was “typical” when I said I hadn’t got rings. Then he took off his signet ring and put it on my finger.’
Their wedding came after Sir Ken was discharged from Liverpool Heart and Chest hospital weeks previously following six weeks of treatment for a severe chest infection.
Their nuptials took place at the home in Liverpool’s Knotty Ash that he lived in his entire life and where Anne lives today.
Loving relationship: The couple had been together for 40 loving years before finally making the decision to make things official in 2018 (pictured in 2006)
And Lady Anne reflected that their wedding was all the more special because of the years they’d been together and the ‘promise’ that they’d finally honoured after four decades.
She said: ‘It was honouring a promise made years before. He’d said, “Oh, we will get married, we will, we will”. And I think it obviously struck him – I think I better had.’
She went on to say that her husband wasn’t one to ‘talk about death’ but she noted that there is a ‘certain point’ when one knows they are ‘not very well’.
Anne added that she believed that Ken was pleased to have finally made her his wife by ‘the way he said his vows’.
Happy couple: Looking back at their wedding and subsequent two day marriage, Anne recalled how their bittersweet day was ‘really sad, but it was also beautiful’ amid Ken’s ailing health
Discussing their relationship, she went on to say that the funnyman was a ‘romantic person’ who would always leave sweet notes around the house for her to find.
The couple underwent fertility treatment in the 1980’s but sadly were unable to conceive children.
At the time of Ken’s death, Lady Anne paid a heartfelt tribute to him as she stood outside their home.
She said: ‘I have lost a most wonderful husband. We first met when I was in the Ken Dodd Christmas Show in 1961 at the Manchester Opera House.
Marriage: It was very difficult because he was very poorly. When he was in hospital he’d been saying, “Look, when I come home, we must get married. We will do it in church when I’m better”‘
‘I’ve had the supreme joy and privilege of working and living with him as a partner for the past 40 years.
‘The world has lost a most life-enhancing, brilliant, creative comedian with an operatically trained voice, who just wanted to make people happy. He lived to perfect his art and entertain his live and adoring audiences.
‘I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and affection which I’ve already received from dear friends and the public and I thank you all for being here.’
Sweet: Lady Anne reflected that their wedding was all the more special because of the years they’d been together and the ‘promise’ that they’d finally honoured after four decades (pictured in 2018)
Born in Liverpool, in 1927, Sir Ken became famous for his stand-up comedy routines which often included song performances. He also created the character of the Diddy Men.
Known for his wild hair, protruding teeth and tickling sticks, Sir Ken knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to entertainment and charity.
He had already been appointed an OBE in the 1982 New Year Honours.
Sir Ken was made an honorary fellow of Liverpool John Moores University in 1997 and a statue of him was unveiled in Liverpool Lime Street station in 2009.
Her husband: ‘It was honouring a promise made years before. He’d said, “Oh, we will get married, we will, we will”. And I think it obviously struck him – I think I better had’