Showtown opens the doors to laughter with Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition
It was a beautiful day to grab a tickling stick and launch Blackpool’s fun-packed celebration of comedy genius Sir Ken Dodd OBE at the resort’s award-winning museum of fun and entertainment!
Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition was officially openedat Showtown on Tuesday 23 June by Ken’s beloved wife Anne, Lady Dodd, who was joined by many of Ken’s theatrical friends, along with cultural leaders and invited guests, to enjoy a laughter-filled preview of the tickle-tastic treasures and rare artifacts, which are on public display from Wednesday 24 June to Sunday 3 January 2027.
Lady Dodd reflected on Ken’s lifelong love affair with Blackpool before being welcomed through a tickling stick guard of honour to officially open the doors to the exciting new exhibition. She said: “How tickled I am to be here today to open Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition which celebrates the life and career of my husband Sir Ken. I remember Ken saying he played somewhere in Blackpool every year of his performing life and always referred to it as the show town of Britain. As you walk around this wonderful exhibition I hope you also share his passion for what he called feelgood comedy and performance – which was about spreading happiness, bringing joy and making his audiences forget their troubles for a while.”
This joyful new Doddy display is Showtown’s first ever visiting exhibition and combines highlights from the much-loved Museum of Liverpool Happiness! 2024 exhibition alongside previously unseen material from Blackpool's very own Ken Dodd archive.
Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition was developed in partnership with National Museums Liverpool and The Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation and offers visitors the thrilling opportunity to explore a carefully curated collection of archive photographs and programmes, admire Ken’s colourful stage costumes, iconic props and original puppets, including the infamous Dicky Mint, and watch original footage of his hilarious and legendarily lengthy performances.
The exhibition also features exclusive excerpts from Ken’s private notebooks - offering a unique insight into the creative genius behind Britain’s Master of Mirth - and enjoy an interactive Giggle Map, charting the many places and people Ken encountered during his extraordinary touring career.
Blackpool is a town synonymous with Ken’s legendary live performances. For over six decades, audiences packed the resort’s theatres to experience Doddy’s famously marathon shows, while his affection for the town extended far beyond the stage. From switching on the Blackpool Illuminations in 1966 to helping save Blackpool Grand Theatre in the 1970s and opening the famous Comedy Carpet in 2011, Ken’s connection with Blackpool remained strong throughout his life.
Spencer Phillips, Chairman of the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, which operates Showtown, also spoke at the launch: “Ken Dodd and Blackpool are a unique story. The most shows performed here by any star ever and the most hours on stage. I guess the second is no surprise to anybody! Ken Dodd loved Blackpool and Blackpool loved him and that’s why we are here today to celebrate Britain’s greatest comedian. Thank you Lady Dodd for sharing Sir Ken with us and for all your support for Showtown.”
Fellow comic and friend Mick Miller brought even more laughter to the proceedings as he told hilarious tales of their working life together: “I won a comedy award in Liverpool in 1978 and Ken presented me with it. He said ‘You're a funny man. What you need is a bit of help. Can you do one of my shows? There's not a lot of money in it because it’s only about sixty people’. There were 518! Then he bought me half a lager and said ‘make it last!’ That’s Ken. I hope everyone enjoys this exhibition which makes you smile just like he did.”
Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition will bring laughter, memories and a little bit of Doddy magic for all the family all through 2026. Book your tickets now and you’ll be truly tickled!
Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition is open from Wednesday 24 June 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027 at Showtown, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool, FY1 4TQ.
Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition is an extra special ticketed exhibition, with entry priced at just £3 for adults aged 16+. Children are FREE of charge. This small admission fee helps support the presentation of nationally significant exhibitions such as Happiness! and enables Showtown to continue bringing major collections, exciting cultural experiences and world-class entertainment heritage exhibitions to Blackpool for both residents and visitors alike. Click here to book or visit www.showtownblackpool/happiness
Showtown is operated by the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, a registered charity dedicated to preserving and celebrating Blackpool’s unique entertainment heritage. Registered Charity Number: 1155729. For further information and the full opening schedule of Showtown please visit www.showtownblackpool.co.uk