100ft-high tickling stick compared to a giant loo brush and a kebab rotisserie will tower over Liverpool city centre as part of plans for museum dedicated to the late comedian Sir Ken Dodd

A giant tickling stick up to 100ft high is set to tower over Liverpool city centre as part of a new museum dedicated to the late Sir Ken Dodd.

But the proposed creation, yards from a grade I-listed civic building once described as ‘finest neo-Greek structure in the world, is likely to divide opinion after being likened to a ‘giant loo brush’ or ‘kebab rotisserie’.

The sculpture, in tribute to the comedian who died aged 90 in 2018, has been revealed as part of plans for the new Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre.

If approved, the £15m building – a four-storey extension of the Royal Court Theatre – would become a permanent home to The Sir Ken Dodd archive and Happiness exhibition currently showing at National Museum Liverpool.

It would also ‘celebrate the life and career’ of the Scouse comedian as well as offer spaces for comedy-based events, along with a bar and restaurant and extra facilities for the theatre.

The proposed 100ft tickle brush that is set to tower over Liverpool city centre in honour of 

Sir Ken Dodd was a legendary English comedian, singer and occasional actor. The giant structure has been proposed in his honour

An artist’s impression of the 100ft tickle brush outside the proposed Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre

However, the tickling stick sculpture – which appears from artist’s impressions to be almost as tall as the 38.1m (125ft) building itself although its exact height is not specified – is set to be installed within spitting distance of St George’s Hall.

The Victorian edifice, which opened in 1854, is one of the city’s grandest buildings and has been lauded over the years by figures from Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens to poet John Betjeman and, in more recent times, the King.

One local publication, Confidentials Liverpool, predicted traditionalists would be less than ‘tickled’ by the proposals – ‘especially as the appearance of the Ken Dodd tickle stick resembles a huge toilet brush. Or a kebab rotisserie.’

Richard Kemp, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on Liverpool City Council said: ‘We’re lucky to have 981 listed buildings in our city centre, the most outside London – we’re crammed with listed buildings so it’s difficult not to be in proximity of one of them.’

But he added: ‘I think it’s a damned good idea. I’m sure a Ken Dodd museum will be attractive. He’s a loved figure and I think it’ll bring more people to the city, bringing more prosperity but also keeping alive the memory of Ken Dodd.’

The huge tickling stick would be dramatically larger than the current bronze sculpture of Sir Ken at Lime Street station.

If approved, building work on the Happiness Centre, which would be run by the Royal Court Theatre, could begin in 2025 with doors set to open in 2026.

The site is currently a bar previously known as the Penny Farthing Pub.

The new building has been designed by Stirling Prize winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), who were also behind the extensive refurbishment of Liverpool’s Royal Court, with funding coming from sources including the Sir Ken Dodd Charitable Trust.

Part of the design includes a cut-away element of the façade resembling a smile.

The new centre aims to ‘highlight and explore Liverpool humour and the role the city played in becoming a cradle of entertainment for countless comedians’.

The proposals add: ‘The centre will also explore how comedy and humour defines Liverpudlians, why the city is known world-wide for its wit and humour and how we can use laughter and humour to make us feel better and improve wellbeing.’

Gillian Miller, chief executive of Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre – housed in an art deco building dating back to the 1930s and where the actor Richard Burton made his first professional stage appearance in 1943 – said: ‘Liverpool is renowned all around the world for the wit and humour of its people.

If approved, building work on the Happiness Centre, which would be run by the Royal Court Theatre, could begin in 2025 with doors set to open in 2026 

Sir Ken Dodd was primarily known for his live stand-up performances and was a lifelong resident of Knotty Ash in Liverpool

Sir Ken Dodd has been described as ‘the last great music hall entertainer’ and was a legend in Liverpool

‘It is about time that the city had a building dedicated to celebrating that fact. Sir Ken was Liverpool’s best-loved entertainer and one of the UK’s greatest ever comedians. 

‘He was a chart-topping singer, talented actor and accomplished ventriloquist, but his true passion was his natural gift for making us all laugh. We are delighted to be working with the Sir Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation on this project that will form a part of such an important legacy.’

Sir Ken’s wife, Lady Anne, added: ‘I couldn’t be happier to support the building of a Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre. It was his lifelong dream to build a place where comedy is taken seriously, and he would be delighted to know that he was part of a building in the centre of Liverpool that leaves every visitor with a smile on their face.’

Sam Avery, chief executive of The Comedy Trust, which is also involved in the project, said: ‘The building will epitomise the late Sir Ken Dodd’s belief that comedy and humour are essential ingredients for life, creating happier, healthier people.’

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