LEGENDARY comedian Ken Dodd is coming to Dudley but is devastated Dudley Hippodrome is earmarked for demolition.

The 87-year-old comedian has graced stages up and down the country including the Hippodrome in its heyday and slammed the decision to bring the curtain down on the venue.

Unless the iconic Castle Hill building gets an eleventh-hour reprieve from Dudley Council planners it seems certain to face the bulldozers in to make way for regeneration.

Speaking to the News Ken Dodd said: “I loved performing at the Hippodrome. It is vandalism what is happening to the place.”

“So many stars performed there, it is always sad to see a place like that go.”

Famed for his four hour shows the audience are advised to check the last bus home before he starts shooting out one liners.

He said: "I will be as mad as a march hare to be in Dudley again because I love performing in front of Black Country audiences, I might even bring some white rabbits with me.

"I have performed all over the Black Country and audiences are always great because they have a great sense of humour."

He added: "Dudley Town Hall is one of my favourite venues, but I learnt early on where's where in the Black Country because they pulled me up when I got a place wrong."

The Scouse funny man then launched into a classic Enoch and Eli joke with a comic delivery of a man who has been in showbusiness for over 60 years.

He said: "I love how the Black Country has Enoch and Eli just as Liverpool has Pat and Mick jokes."

Ken is tickled pink have his friends performing at his Happiness Show with him at Dudley Town Hall this time round.

He said: "This is going to be a variety show, I love variety so there will be a live band, a wonderful entertainer called Andy Eastwood who is a ukulele player and a dance act from the Midlands called Andante.

He said: "There really is nothing better than an old fashioned variety show, it is better than television or going to the films."

He added: "People say I do long shows but I say what I do is entertain and give people value for money."

Ken Dodd will be performing at Dudley Town Hall on Saturday March 1.