Sir Ken Dodd told fellow comedian Roy Hudd he\'ll "never work again" the night before he died.
The Liverpudlian - who invented \'The Diddy Men\' - was a prolific performer and before he sadly passed away at the age of 90 on March 11 at his home in Knotty Ash, Merseyside, he told Roy, 81, that he wouldn\'t be able to perform anymore.
Roy told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I spoke to him the night before. It was so awful.
"The last thing he said to me was, \'I don\'t think I\'ll ever work again, you know.\'
"That was so sad, as everyone knows, that was his absolute life.
"He was the ultimate professional comedian."
The comic legend was even delivering advice on his deathbed.
Roy recalled: "That last time I spoke to Ken I said, \'I\'ve got to learn the script\'.
"He said, \'You\'ve got to keep your hand in with the audience and think of them while you\'re learning it.\' "
The \'Common As Muck\' star said that Ken was scrupulous with his money and only went on a budget holiday after he suggested he should enjoy a rest.
However, instead he ended up getting to know the locals who were familiar with his work.
He said: "I once told him he must take a holiday. The next time I saw him he said, \'I took your advice young man, we went to Majorca.\'
"I said how much and he said £125 a fortnight. I thought, \'Christ where did they stay?\'
"I asked if he enjoyed it and he said, \'Yes, everyone knew me.\'
"That is absolutely him. Everyone goes away to rest and get away from it all but no, he wanted to talk to everyone."
Celebrities and fans came out in their droves to pay their respects to Ken as he was laid to rest on March 28.
Several stars, including Ricky Tomlinson, Stephanie Cole and Claire Sweeney attended Liverpool\'s Anglican Cathedral, and hundreds of his supporters stood on the streets outside the venue clutching tickling sticks.
Residents and visitors lined the route as a horse-drawn hearse - a nod to his dad\'s job as a coal merchant - travelled from Ken\'s home in Knotty Ash to the cathedral.
Ken passed away in the same house in which he grew up, after being released from hospital following six weeks of treatment for a chest infection.
The entertainer married Anne, his partner of 40 years, last month, and she says he taught her that she\'ll always feel his presence beyond the grave.
9 September 2019 - 2:00 PM
9 February 2019 - 12:00 PM
