Ken Dodd, Richmond Theatre

Ken Dodd, the living legend returned to Richmond Theatre for two sell out shows this week after a twenty year absence. How fitting that he has come to Richmond Theatre in its 110th Anniversary year where he reminds us of the great performers of the past such as Tommy Cooper and Arthur Askey.

From the moment Ken steps out on stage, he has the audience in the palm of his hand, and how they love him! His humour has an optimistic innocence about it - naughty but nice!

He has a huge sense of fun and enjoyment of life, he clearly loves performing to his audience as much as they love him. He adores women (especially the more curvaceous) and rejoices in the differences between the sexes without ever being crude. He lampoons modern day technology and especially his beloved Tax Office! His long shaggy dog stories, which wander through many distractions, are occasionally punctuated by a wheezy cough - cue a joke about the congestion charge.

Never underestimate the man, his birth certificate may confirm his 82 years but his stamina is legendary. He teases the audience remorselessly about the end of the show: "Don't bother looking at your watch, you'd be better off with a calendar!"

His army of adoring fans are more than happy to sit through a five hour stint. The show finished at 11pm, early by Doddy's standards, leaving the audience exhausted from laughing.

Rarely has Richmond Theatre echoed with such prolonged laughter. Ken provides a masterclass to budding comedians, especially "alternative" types, to whom he generously attributes: "They mean well, I blame the parents!"

Ken is supported by Sibbi Jones, a wonderfully inventive singer and musician.

At the end of the show you feel exhausted, exhilarated and totally entertained. However gloomy the news is, the world is a better place knowing that Ken Dodd is in it.

Lets hope that it's less than 20 years since we see him back at Richmond with us again!

Brenda Broadhurst