Laurel and Hardy Museum

29/05/2026

26/05/2026

08/05/2026

He said he was 'tickled to be there.' Ken Dodd was invited to unveil a statue honouring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, it felt like a fitting tribute from one great comic to two of the very greatest.

The ceremony took place in April 2009 in Ulverston, Cumbria — the birthplace of Laurel — where a large crowd gathered in County Square outside the Coronation Hall. More than 2,000 people turned out to witness the unveiling, many of them lifelong fans who had grown up watching the duo’s films. It was not just a local event, but a celebration of comedy history.

Dodd, a devoted admirer of Laurel and Hardy, spoke warmly about their legacy. He described them as “the most famous, most loved and most fabulous” double act the world had ever seen, before summing it up more simply:

“They were the kings of comedy — they made the world laugh.”

There was a sense that Dodd wasn’t just performing for the crowd — he was speaking as a fan. He often credited the pair as a major influence on his own career, and his affection for them was clear throughout the event. In typical Dodd fashion, he also added a touch of humour, joking that he was “tickled” to be there and teasing the sculptor about possibly being the subject of a future statue himself.

The bronze sculpture, created by artist Graham Ibbeson, captures Laurel and Hardy in a familiar pose, bowler hats in place and expressions instantly recognisable. The location was especially meaningful — just yards from where the pair once appeared on the Coronation Hall balcony during a visit in 1947.

More than 15 years on, the statue remains a popular landmark, drawing visitors from around the world. But perhaps what stood out most that day was the connection between generations of comedy — one legend paying tribute to two who helped shape everything that followed.

28/04/2026

Neil Brand has been taking his tour around the country

24/04/2026

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LAUREL & HARDY: THE SILENT YEARS (1929), a landmark collection of nine short films.

Presented in high definition for the first time in the UK and newly restored in 2K from the finest available materials.

The Region A/B/C Blu-ray edition will be released on 20 July 2026 as part of The Masters of Cinema Series. Strictly limited to 2,000 copies, this edition includes an exclusive O-card slipcase and a collector’s booklet.

Pre-order now – see full details here: https://buff.ly/GH53Icr

SPECIAL FEATURES and more PRE-ORDER links in the comments...

22/04/2026

25 April @ The Museum - As seen on QI, The Royal Variety Performance, Have I Got News For You & many more

Daliso Chaponda is a comedian, writer and satirist who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, reaching the final and amassing over 10 million YouTube views of his audition. Since then he’s had his own Radio 4 series (Citizen of Nowhere) & toured across the UK and around the world.

He has been writing jokes about the news for over a decade - on Have I Got News For You, Radio 4’s News Quiz, Australia’s Good News Week and in fact, he’s even been the news himself, making headlines across the world after his unforgettable run on Britain’s Got Talent.

But recently, Daliso has found the headlines so absurd, chaotic and overwhelming that they’ve started to mock themselves. Where do we go from here?

Topical Storm is his response. A show not just about the news, but about news itself. Journalists, bloggers, fake news, satirical news - has the reporting of events become part of the chaos rather than the cure? Are we more polarised than ever? And would we be better off going right back to the first news bulletin - a caveman scratching on a wall - and starting over?

Daliso explores all this with the sharp one-liners, playful curiosity and thought-provoking punchlines that have made him one of Britain’s most beloved stand-up comedians. At once hilarious and timely, Topical Storm is comedy’s attempt to find clarity in the avalanche of 24-hour rolling headlines.

Daliso’s shows are never just about laughs: in Malawi, he once dared to joke about the arrest of two men for homosexuality, sparking dialogue where silence had reigned. For him, comedy isn’t about changing minds - but it is about starting conversations we’re too afraid to have.

Expect jokes about the latest absurdities, a journey through the history of journalism, and a finale that asks what role comedy (and we as citizens) can play in the storm.

What the press have said:

“The laughs come thick and fast” ★★★★ Metro

“Gets laughs out of topics other comedians shun” The Guardian

“Brilliantly bold, thoroughly engaging and provocative” Wee Review

14/04/2026