COMEDIAN Sir Ken Dodd, the creator of the Diddy Men and best known for his epic stand-up shows, has died aged 90.

The comedy veteran, who seven-decade career stretched from the music-hall era to the age of social media, died yesterday in the house he was born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool.

He had left hospital on February 27 at the end of a six-week stay for a chest infection.

He wed Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, on Friday and an announcement was due to go out later this week about the marriage.

During his distinguished career he was joined by variety singer and Salisbury arts chief Rosemary Squires.

Paying tribute, president of Studio Theatre Mrs Squires said: “I’ve known Ken for over 60 years – we were both with the same agent. We remained in touch as recently as Christmas.

“I was his leading lady for several seaside seasons, in the days when summer seasons ran from April to October. Including a long season at the London Palladium.”

Mrs Squires added that if her or husband Frank needed support then Sir Ken was “was the first on the line”.

“He was a gentleman, always considerate, nothing smutty in Ken’s shows. Mind you he was unpredictable, no precise script but that was a challenge I enjoyed, it kept you on your toes and the show never got stale!

“To rehash an old cliché, they haven’t made another like him, he was a one off. God Bless him and his lovely wife Anne."