Leeds: City Varieties auditorium renamed to honour comedian Sir Ken Dodd

Sir Ken Dodd performed at the venue from 1953 to 1983

A Leeds theatre has announced that it is renaming its auditorium to honour Sir Ken Dodd.

The City Varieties Music Hall hosted the veteran comedian on its stage for thirty years, between 1953 to 1983.

In a post on social media, the theatre said the new name, the Sir Ken Dodd Auditorium would be a tribute to his legacy.

The venue was also the first to screen the documentary The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Love.

Sir Dodd, who frequently starred in BBC's The Good Old Days, was best known for his stand-up comedy in music halls.

He died in 2018, aged 90, after a long career on television and stage.

His widow, Lady Dodd, is a patron of The Friends of the City Varieties and said the decision was "wonderful".

"If he'd known then that in years to come the city of Leeds would honour him by naming this glorious auditorium after him, he'd never have believed it," she said.

"A man from Lancashire being honoured in Yorkshire - the War of the Roses is well and truly over!"