FANS of Sir Ken Dodd are expected to line the streets of Liverpool later to pay their respects to the British comedian.

The much-loved funny man, famous for his Diddy Men and tickling stick, died at the age of 90 earlier this month.

Members of the public have been asked to line the route of the funeral procession. A horse-drawn hearse will travel from Knotty Ash to Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.

Fans are welcome at the service and a large screen will be outside the cathedral for those who cannot be accommodated inside. BBC Radio Merseyside will broadcast the service live.

Tickling sticks like those Dodd famously waved were positioned on statues and public buildings in the city Tuesday in his honor.

Dodd, one of Britain’s most recognizable entertainers, was born in 1927 in the suburb of Knotty Ash. He died just days after marrying Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, at their home.

Speaking to the BBC’s North West Tonight, she said the support she had received from Sir Dodd’s fans had been “unbelievable.”

“I couldn’t have imagined it would be as it has been,” she said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of flowers.”

She attributed that in part to the “tremendous empathy” her husband had had “with people he knew and people he didn’t know.”

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, remembered Dodd as “the ultimate showman, a truly unique performer and a wonderful ambassador for Liverpool.”

He said last week, “Although Wednesday will be a somber occasion, it is an opportunity for us all to pay tribute to an unforgettable man.”

Flags at the Town Hall, St. George’s Hall, Cunard Building and Central Library will be lowered for the day as a mark of respect.

(SD-Agencies)