A standing ovation hailed the comic genius of Ken Dodd, an unbelievable 80 years old and last of the great music-hall entertainers.

The key to his remarkable longevity and popularity as a comedian is the genuine warmth that radiates his good-natured, benevolent and uncontroversial sense of fun. You feel he just has to share his quirky, childlike sense of wonder at the oddities of human behaviour and the unlimited potential of the human imagination.

There is none of the heartless cynicism, cruel mockery or relentless swearing so characteristic of young stand-ups.

Visually he is unmistakable with his fly-away hair, clown-like buck-toothed face, zany costumes, and fluffy tickling sticks.

His technical virtuosity is in a league of its own. With a wondrous ear for accent and intonation and perfect timing, interacting effortlessly with the versatile Knotty Ash Philharmonic Orchestra or members of the audience, he whizzes from one subject to another.

He mixes gags with observation, songs and tongue-twisting ventriloquism. His phenomenal memory blends seamlessly with his gift for improvisation.

Music-hall is his great inspiration, informing both his own versatility and the show's format with its stage-school Diddymen, female singer (not very good) and Britain's Leading Lady Trumpeter (very good indeed).

In the company of this comic phenomenon five hours just sped by and the audience left the theatre tattifilariously tickled.