The £10m project will be designed by Stirling Prize winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), who were also behind the extensive refurbishment of Liverpool’s Royal Court. Funding for the project is coming from a number of sources, primarily the Sir Ken Dodd Charitable Trust.

As well as being a home for comedy in the city, the building will join on to the theatre, creating new dressing rooms and office space that will allow the staging of larger and more ambitious works in the future.

Royal Court Liverpool Trust own the freehold of the site and has made a planning application to Liverpool City Council for a scheme on the site known as Act V developed by Architects Emporium. This project will replace the existing proposals to create The Happiness Centre.

Gillian Miller, Chief Executive of Liverpool’s Royal Court said: “Liverpool is renowned all around the World for the wit and humour of its people. It is about time that the city had a building dedicated to celebrating that fact. Sir Ken was Liverpool’s best-loved entertainer and one of the UK’s greatest ever comedians. He was a chart-topping singer, talented actor and accomplished ventriloquist, but his true passion was his natural gift for making us all laugh. We are delighted to be working with the Sir Ken Dodd Charitable foundation on this project that will form a part of his legacy.”

Sam Avery, Chief Executive of The Comedy Trust said: “The building will epitomise the late Sir Ken Dodd’s belief that comedy and humour are essential ingredients for life, creating happier, healthier people. We are advocates of the power of humour for positive mental wellbeing, and are always exploring the evolving relationship between humour and health, as well as developing creativity, confidence and communication skills. This new centre will help us to reach more people from all around the region.”