Liverpool’s Royal Court, working with The Comedy Trust and The Sir Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, submitted plans last Autumn for the brand new £15m building dedicated to Liverpool’s rich comedy heritage to Liverpool City Council. Building work could begin in 2025 with the doors set to open in 2027 to mark what would have been Sir Ken Dodd’s 100th birthday.

The four-storey building would become a permanent home to The Sir Ken Dodd archive and Happiness exhibition currently showing at National Museum Liverpool, and will celebrate the life and career of Sir Ken Dodd, while also offering spaces for comedy-based workshops, talks and performances. The centre will be operated by Liverpool’s Royal Court as an extension of the Royal Court Theatre.

The Happiness Centre will celebrate all forms of comedy and humour and provide opportunities for all to take part in a wide range of programmes, workshops and sessions with comedy, humour, health and wellbeing at their heart