Sir Ken Dodd: Tributes to the 'master of tickling sticks'

Celebrities and fans have paid tribute to one of the country's best-loved comedians, Sir Ken Dodd, who has died at the age of 90.

He passed away peacefully at his home in Liverpool just 48 hours after he married his partner of 40 years, Anne Jones.

The veteran entertainer was hailed as a "legend and an inspiration" and "one of the all-time greats", with tributes from stars including Sir Paul McCartney, David Walliams, Carol Vorderman and Dawn French.

:: Vote: Which Ken Dodd one-liner is funniest?

The Great British Bake Off host Sandi Toksvig recalled a time when she dined out with the comedian and "laughed and laughed and tried not to drown in my soup".

Fans also paid tribute, hailing his live performances as the "funniest 5 hours of my life".

One called for fans to help get Sir Ken's single "Happiness" to the top of the charts.

Those who worked with him also looked back with fondness.

Sound engineer Simon Burchett recalled working with Sir Ken in the 1980s.

He wrote: "One night he said 'I'll follow you home and I'll shout jokes through your letterbox'."

Theatres and venues who hosted Sir Ken also paid tribute, saying "it was a pleasure to welcome him to our stage".

And Guinness World Records reacted to the comedian's death, posting an entry from its 1974 book showcasing a "marathon session of joke cracking" from Sir Ken at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.