IT’S clear Ken Dodd has had enough of being interviewed by journalists, who more often than not ask him the same old questions.

After celebrating 60 years in showbiz, the 86-year-old comedian turns the tables and wants to find out as much information about me before we conduct the interview.

“Where are you from my dear and what are your ambitions in life?” asks Ken. “And are you any good at cooking?”

In a bizarre start to the conversation he manages to weigh me up and discovers that I am a lousy chef.

He then reels off the line-up for his variety show coming to Blackburn on Saturday that includes the one and only Dickie Mint, who’s finally out of the jam butty mines.

“People from the North West have got the best chuckle muscles and being from there, I know we love to laugh,” says Ken who was born in Knotty Ash.

In the whirlwind interview, I ask if recent reports were true that he could be set for a career change and stand as a Tory candidate in next year’s General Election.

He once famously presented Margaret Thatcher with a tickling stick when she opened a tea shop in Liverpool’s Wavertree constituency and introduced her at a 1979 Wembley Arena election rally.

“That is all absolute rubbish, it must be silly season because it’s all nonsense, so the answer to that is no, no, no,” he said.

“I would rather be a vicar than a politician because I like the idea of being an everybody kind of person.

“But as a comedian you are told to stay away from politics and religion so I am pretty stuffed,” adds Ken, who is famous for his one-liners.

This bank holiday weekend, the comedy legend will bringing the Happiness Show to King George’s Hall, he’s taking his tour across the country and is booked up at venues until December.

The comedy icon and national treasure who has been entertaining audiences for a lifetime says the audience will be absolutely discumknockerated (that’s Knotty Ash for ‘over the moon’).

“I still love to produce and direct the shows and I have to keep all of the artists happy. I buy them fish and chips and I look after them.

“People always ask me if I am going to be doing anything different on my tour, but why should I? This is showbiz and it’s the variety that everyone enjoys, it’s important to have a variety of skills,” says Ken.

Also known by the title, Professor Yaffle Chucklebutty Operatic Tenor and Sausage Knotter, Ken Dodd is ready for the Blackburn audience and to celebrate being in the industry, he will be ready to taste a pint of Thwaites.

“I will certainly be raising a glass after the show I will be tasting a glass of tickle tonic that’s what it’s all about a good old fashioned laugh and having a great time.”

  • Ken Dodd, Happiness Show, Saturday, May 3, King George’s Hall, Blackburn. Details from 0844 847 1664.