Happiness! arrives at Showtown this June with a tickle-tastic new Ken Dodd Exhibition

Blackpool’s award-winning museum of fun and entertainment is truly tickled to announce its first ever visiting exhibition will bring giggles galore for all the family as it celebrates the life and career of Sir Ken Dodd OBE.

Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition will open at Showtown on Wednesday June 24 2026 and run right through to Sunday January 3 2027, showcasing a joyful and deeply personal collection of rare artifacts belonging to the Master of Mirth himself, which will be travelling exclusively to the resort direct from Museum of Liverpool - part of National Museums Liverpool.

This exciting standalone exhibition will be packed with rarely seen theatrical treasures and will also pay tribute to Ken’s deep and enduring relationship with Blackpool. For decades, audiences flocked to the resort’s theatres to see Doddy’s famously marathon performances, with his legendary live shows often continuing long into the early hours. But his town ties also stretched far beyond the stage, with Ken switching on the Illuminations in 1966, helping save Blackpool Grand Theatre in the 1970s and proudly opening the Promenade’s famous Comedy Carpet in 2011!

“Blackpool is my favourite town. It’s the showbiz temple of the UK – anybody who’s everybody has played Blackpool.” - Ken Dodd

Visitors can explore a specially curated selection of fascinating archive programmes and photographs, admire Ken’s flamboyant stage outfits, fun props and original puppets - including the infamous Dicky Mint - the Foreman from the Jam Butty Mines of Knotty Ash, watch original video footage of his performances and read exclusive excerpts from private notebooks belonging to the much-loved comedian and entertainer.

Madame Tussauds Blackpool has even kindly loaned its life-size waxwork of Sir Ken, complete with tickling stick, to watch over proceedings throughout the exhibition. And there will also be a gloriously interactive giggle map which captures just some of the many places and people Ken encountered during his live stage shows across the country, with an innovative touchscreen to take a titter tour!

Developed in Partnership with National Museums Liverpool and The Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, the original Happiness! exhibition was enjoyed by thousands of visitors in Ken’s home city throughout 2024 at Museum of Liverpool. Now set to travel to one of his most beloved places to perform live, Showtown is working with Blackpool Council on a number of exciting collaborations this year to celebrate the life and legacy of Sir Ken Dodd.

Spencer Phillips is Chairman of the Blackpool Museum & Heritage Trust, which operates Showtown. He said of the arrival of Happiness! this June: “Ken Dodd holds a truly special place in Britain’s entertainment story and his long-standing relationship with Blackpool makes this exhibition even more meaningful for the town. We’re incredibly proud that Showtown will be hosting this major celebration of Ken’s life and career, giving visitors the chance to experience the warmth, humour and extraordinary talent that made him such a beloved national figure. Whether you grew up watching Doddy or are discovering him for the first time, we hope people leave smiling, laughing and feeling wonderfully tickled.”

Director National Museums Liverpool, Laura Pye, added: “Sir Ken Dodd was an iconic comedian, performer and philanthropist who dedicated his life to making others smile. After a successful extended run at Museum of Liverpool in 2024 we are delighted that the Happiness! exhibition now extends to Showtown in Blackpool, so even more visitors can experience his legacy in a town that was so iconic to him.”

Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born on 8 November 1927 in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash, the son of a coal merchant. He began working as an entertainer in the 1950s and was known for his eccentric and lengthy performances and incredible repertoire of one-liners, regularly appearing on famous stages with his inimitable one-man show year on year, until his very last live appearances in October 2017. Ken carefully crafted his legendary routines, mastered timing to perfection and built an extraordinary career that inspired generations of comedians to follow in his footsteps. He was also a chart-topping singer, accomplished ventriloquist and talented actor who had a deep love of Shakespeare and starred as Malvolio in Twelfth Night at Liverpool Playhouse and Yorick in Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film Hamlet to rave reviews.

Sir Ken Dodd received a knighthood from Prince William at the age of 89 for his charity work and his outstanding career in entertainment lasting more than six decades. The investiture came 25 years after he was first awarded an OBE for services to show business and charity. He passed away at his home in Knotty Ash in March 2018 aged 90 years old with his beloved wife Anne, Lady Dodd, by his side.

Lady Dodd will officially open the Showtown exhibition this June and said of Doddy’s return to Blackpool: “Ken absolutely adored Blackpool. He always said there was nowhere quite like it for entertainment and audiences, and some of his happiest memories were made from performing there over the years. He called Blackpool ‘the greatest show town in the world’ and so he would be thrilled to know that this exhibition featuring so many treasured pieces from his life and career is to be held at the museum whose name he inspired! I hope visitors leave smiling, laughing and remembering the joy he loved to share with everyone.”

Leader of Blackpool Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Cllr Lynn Williams, added: “Ken Dodd is truly part of the fabric of British entertainment, and his connection and love for Blackpool makes this exhibition even more special. We’re delighted that Showtown is hosting a showcase of such scale and quality. It marks another exciting chapter in Blackpool’s cultural journey and strengthens our growing reputation as one of the UK’s most vibrant creative destinations. The exhibition also supports our wider ambitions for the town’s future as a leading hub for arts, culture and entertainment, while adding momentum to our City of Culture bid, for which we’re proud to be currently longlisted.”

Happiness! is arriving in Blackpool this June and it’s bringing a tickling stick… Book your tickets now and Let’s Have Fun!

Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition will run from Wednesday 24 June 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027 at Showtown, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool, FY1 4TQ.

Happiness! The Ken Dodd Exhibition is an extra special ticketed exhibition, with entry priced at just £3 for adults aged 16+. Children are FREE of charge. This small admission fee helps support the presentation of nationally significant exhibitions such as Happiness! and enables Showtown to continue bringing major collections, exciting cultural experiences and world-class entertainment heritage exhibitions to Blackpool for both residents and visitors alike. Click here to book or visit www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/happiness.

Showtown is operated by the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, a registered charity dedicated to preserving and celebrating Blackpool’s unique entertainment heritage. Registered Charity Number: 1155729. For further information and the full opening schedule of Showtown please visit www.showtownblackpool.co.uk