Funnyman Dodd Leaves Ladies Bursting

Funnyman Ken Dodd and his tickling stick have been blamed for leaving dozens of women almost wetting themselves at his comedy shows.

It was not the comedian's jokes which were leaving the ladies doubled up...but the length of his act before they are allowed out to the toilet.

Theatre bosses say Ken can talk for two to three hours before deciding it is time for an interval.

And they have told councillors the comedian's marathon performances are largely to blame for the rise in the annual number of complaints about the washrooms at a theatre in Bournemouth.

Theatre bosses recorded a drop in satisfaction with the toilets this year where loos were rated less than "average" by 36 customers who filled in the response between April and June.

A report to Bournemouth Borough Council's theatre management committee links the problem to Mr Dodd.

The star gives his audience - many of them elderly ladies - up to five hours entertainment for their money.

"The Ken Dodd show has made an impact on the outcome of the survey" the report states.

"The criticism is the lack of toilets,especially ladies.This is very much to do with Mr Dodd keeping his audience in the auditorium for two to three hours before letting them out of the interval.

"It just about maximises the demand for toilets and it is not surprising that we had difficulty with toilet provision."

Coun Pam Harris,chairwoman of the committee,said it was not always necessary to wait for the interval to use the toilets.

"They could get up and slip out and slip back in,but I know if you're stuck in the middle of a row it would be a bit tricky" she said.