Sir Ken Dodd: What A Beautiful Day!

BBC Radio 4 Extra remembers Sir Ken Dodd who died in March, with another chance to hear a programme made to celebrate his 90th birthday last November, presented by Garry Richardson.

Ken was still performing regularly to sell-out audiences around the country. 50 years ago 10 year-old Garry (now Radio 4’s Today programme sports broadcaster) first saw Sir Ken perform and his fascination with 'Britain's greatest comedian' began.

In this documentary made especially for 4 Extra, the veteran comic gives a fascinating insight into his life. He left school at 14 to help on his dad's coal round. Dodd explains how he went from performing with a teenage concert party to a record-breaking run at the London Palladium. It’s a career that was honoured last year at Buckingham Palace, when Sir Ken received his knighthood for his services to entertainment and charity.

With archive clips, What a Beautiful Day! features an extended interview with Sir Ken, as well as interviews with Sir David Jason, Roy Hudd, Jimmy Tarbuck, Judith Chalmers and Sir Ken’s script writer John Martin, who's been writing jokes for the comedian for over 25 years. All of them giving their own perspective on just what makes Sir Ken Dodd’s comedy tick.

• Produced by Peter McHugh for BBC Radio 4 Extra
• First heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2017

Publicity contact: IP