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Part four - The Kings of Comedy [13.11.07]

Charlie Cairoli clowned around in Blackpool Tower Circus for 39 years.  He did two new shows every year which he tried to keep topical; when Blackpool first got yellow lines, Charlie and company even performed a slapstick routine around that. 

His trademark nose was made out of theatrical putty and a new nose was made for every performance.  It only ever came off once when a routine was slightly mistimed and a plank of wood that was supposed to hit Charlie on the back of the head hit him right in the face and sent it flying!  Charlie's son - also called Charlie - continues to do some of the same routines his father taught him all those years ago.

"Hello playmates!" - Arthur Askey

Arthur Askey was a small guy with a large collection of catchphrases: "Hello playmates," "Before your very eyes," and "I thank you," pronounced 'R than you'. 

Arthur was actually the first person to ever appear on TV because he worked with John Logie Baird when he developed TV in the 1920s.  As well as his stage work he also appeared on radio, television and in films and was always in great demand to play pantomime dames which he did until he died in 1982.

Ken Dodd is famous for his buck teeth, wild hair and tickling sticks. As well as being probably the most well known North West comic, he has also sold more than a staggering 100 million records. 

Ken has lived in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, in the same house all his life. He invented many fictional places and characters as part of his act,  the most well known being the Diddy Men who worked in the Knotty Ash jam butty mines. In 1987 Ken even appeared in Doctor Who. 

Click 'Next' to watch Mick Miller introducing ventriloquists in part three of 'Having a Laugh'

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