Plans have been approved for the £15m Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre, a new permanent home for the comedian's archive in Liverpool, next to the Royal Court Theatre.
The plans were submitted last autumn by Liverpool's Royal Court, The Comedy Trust and The Sir Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation for a four-storey building to house the archive and the Happiness exhibition currently at National Museum Liverpool. Building work could begin, on the site currently occupied by Courtyard Bar & Kitchen, in 2025, with the intention of opening in time for the comic's centenary in 2027.
The Royal Court will operate the building, which will also feature spaces for comedy workshops, talks and performances. It will be designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, who were also behind the refurbishment of the Royal Court.
Lady Anne Dodd said, "I am thrilled that my dream of creating a legacy to celebrate Ken’s life has reached such a landmark stage. I think the building looks fantastic and I know Ken would be delighted at its location, just a stone’s throw from his favourite building in the city, St George’s Hall."
She added, "Ken spent many happy hours entertaining thousands in the Royal Court Theatre and I know he would be delighted that his legacy building links to the theatre he helped to save back in 1979."