麻豆约拍

As his contribution to Liverpool鈥檚 year as European Capital of Culture, Ken Dodd, is playing tribute to Merseyside鈥檚 great comedians in two sold out shows at St George鈥檚 Hall.

The performances of Ken Dodd鈥檚 Laughter Makers on 1 and 2 April will celebrate some of the stars of music hall and radio including Arthur Askey, Tommy Handley, Rob Wilton and Deryck Guyler.

The Knotty Ash comedian has been researching the background of some of the comics who he grew up with.

Ken Dodd has researched the comedians backgrounds.

Liverpool has a long tradition of providing some of the UK鈥檚 biggest entertainment stars dating back to the earliest days of radio and music hall.

One of Merseyside鈥檚 first radio and televison comedians was Everton鈥檚 Rob Wilton, a great influence on Ken Dodd he spoke in a dry Lancashire accent.

Paul McCartney recalls getting his autograph while John Lennon attended his shows at the Liverpool Empire.

Famous for playing incompetent authority figures in a world weary fashion, one of his best remembered sketches centred around The Day That War Broke Out where his character when questioned by his wife as to what contribution he鈥檒l make to the war effort settles on joining the 麻豆约拍 Guard to defend the country against Hitler.

鈥淪he said, "Do you know this Hitler?... have you ever met him?

鈥淚 said, "Do I... of course I don't!

鈥淪he said, "Well how are you going to know which is him if they do land?

鈥淚 said, "Well, I've got a tongue in my head, haven't I?"

Exquisite foolery

During the dark days of the Second World War Britain was kept amused by another Liverpool comedian, Aigburth鈥檚 Tommy Handley in the hit radio show 鈥業t鈥檚 That Man Again鈥� or ITMA.

Handley was born in 13 Threlfall Street on 17 January, 1892, the son of a cow keeper. He took his first showbiz steps on stage at St Michael鈥檚 School and at Toxteth Congregational Church where he sang in the choir.

ITMA, a forerunner of The Goon Shoe and Monty Python, drew strongly on Handley鈥檚 observations of Liverpool characters and life.

It launched a raft of characters and catchphrases including Mrs Mopp 鈥� 鈥淐an I do you know sir鈥�, Mona Lott 鈥淚t鈥檚 being so cheerful as keeps me going鈥� and Handley himself 鈥淲ell I鈥檒l go to the foot of our stairs鈥�.

Another character the diver Deepend Dan鈥檚 catchphrase 鈥淒on鈥檛 forget the Diver鈥� was inspired by Handley鈥檚 childhood memories of day trips to New Brighton and the cry of a one legged diver who would plunge into the Mersey as the Liverpool ferry docked at New Brighton.

The last ITMA was broadcast in January 1949, three days later on 9 January, Tommy Handley died.

Tommy Handley star of ITMA

He was honoured with a memorial service at St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral where the Bishop of London paid tribute saying, 鈥淭he flame of his genius transmuted the copper of our common experience into the gold of exquisite foolery.鈥�

One of Handley鈥檚 sidekicks in ITMA was Wallasey鈥檚 Deryck Guyler, after Handley鈥檚 death Guyler went on to star in TV sitcoms like Please Sir! And Sykes where he played PC Corky.

Ted Ray, born in Wigan in 1905, moved to Liverpool with his parents days after his birth and made his name in a weekly radio show Ray鈥檚 A Laugh, which ran for 12 years form 1949.

A keen golfer he also played roles in many British films including Carry on Teacher, while his radio show was a breeding ground for a new crop of comedians including Peter Sellers, Kenneth Connor and Graham Stark.

Robb Wilton

In the later years of his career Ray appeared on a panel show Does The Team Think? alongside one of Britain鈥檚 and Liverpool鈥檚 best loved comedians, Arthur Askey.

鈥楤ig-hearted Arthur鈥�, a Liverpool Institute boy born in Moses Street in Toxteth鈥檚 鈥楬olyland鈥�, became famous for his catchphrases, many of which drew on his Liverpool background and experience, 鈥淎ye thank yew鈥� was taken from the shout of Liverpool tram conductors.

He starred in the pre-war radio comedy 鈥楤and Waggon鈥� and recorded musical numbers including 鈥楾he Bee Song and his theme tune 鈥楤ig-hearted Arthur鈥�.

In his autobiography he recalled a visit back to Liverpool 鈥淭hey鈥檝e put a plaque on the wall of the house where I was born.

鈥淚t says condemned.鈥�

Often playing a straight role to Askey鈥檚 characters was former Tiller Girl, Liverpool born Avril Angers.

She cut her performing teeth during World War Two in the forces entertainment unit ENSA and in peacetime landed various televison roles including Are You Being Served?, Dads Army and All Creatures Great and Small.

She was the first female comedian to have her own British TV series 1950鈥檚 鈥楧ear Dotty鈥�.