Ken Dodd marriage

[BringMeTea]

To be delighted he married his partner of 40 years 3 days before he died? I have known of several cases where unmarried long term partners end up with nothing and the government take the lot. Given his historical very public tax evasion case (which he won afaik) it must have put his mind at rest to know his partner would inherit.

[StillMe1]

It is wrong that people have to get married to ensure that their assets go to the person they choose. If that is what it takes then so be it. I would like my assets to go to the person who has supported me most and not those whom the law and government would dictate.

[OutsideContextProblem]

I thought you said you had sweet FA Michael? Even by MN standards that’s a questionable description of 325 grand in assets.

I’m slightly less starry eyed about this than most people. I don’t mind him taking advantage of tax laws (one last time) and certainly don’t begrudge Lady Dodd the cash, but I’m a bit suspicious of a wealthy man who doesn’t marry his long term partner for forty years and only does it when he has absolutely nothing to lose. There are a couple of different explanations for why they waited so long and one of them is less flattering to the late Sir Ken than the other. He was notoriously close with money.

[MichaelBendfaster]

I thought you said you had sweet FA Michael? Even by MN standards that’s a questionable description of 325 grand in assets.

Where are you getting '325 grand in assets'? I certainly don't have that.

[OutsideContextProblem]

In that case why are you thinking about inheritance tax?

[MargotLovedTom1]

[BringMeTea]

Oh OutsideContext I had given that some thought myself. I mused that he maybe worried his DP would leave him and maybe get some money he felt she didn’t deserve. On balance though I decided I was delighted he ensured she gets the lot ‘in the end’. One has to assume he had that thought process himself aged 90. Funny isn’t it. (not ha ha)

[LapdanceShoeshine]

@BringMeTea

get their hands on your hard earned mullah

I bet Doddy would have liked that line

(it's moolah )

[MichaelBendfaster]

Outside, I don't understand. Why bring in 325 grand out of nowhere and then ask me about it?

[BringMeTea]

Oh! Oops...

[BringMeTea]

In my defence (feeble) I am northern so was going on phonetics and not facts.

[OutsideContextProblem]

Because you only pay inheritance tax on amounts you leave in excess of 325,000. So people with small assets don’t need to worry about it at all.

[Bluelady]

Because you don't pay inheritance tax on assets of less than £335k.

[MargotLovedTom1]

Because I said you could bequeath your partner everything in a will if you wish, to which you replied much of it (although you said you had nowt really) would be taken in inheritance tax because you aren't married. Outside was pointing out that inheritance tax is only paid on estates worth more than £325,000 at the time of death.

[MargotLovedTom1]

X-post!

[MichaelBendfaster]

Ah, I see.

Well, I really had in mind DP. He technically owns our house/mortgage (when we were looking to buy he was in a well-paid permanent job and I was self-employed and a low earner).

[StillMe1]

Married people have an Inheritance Tax Allowance each so that would be double the £335K ie. £670K. If there is a house that transfers to surviving spouse. No matter when the deaths take place the former couple still have a total of £670K allowance.

[BringMeTea]

I am also struck by his accent. Watching the tribute shows. It bears no relation to the ‘scouse’ accent so prevalent nowadays. I know Beryl Bainbridge caused controversy with her comments about the accent. But Doddy’s accent and Bainbridge’s accent are so different to the ones we hear these days. Can any Liverpudlians weigh in? Is the ‘modern’ scouse accent an affectation? Doddy’s accent would not be recognized as scouse by today’s standards/what we see represented in media.

Apologies for huge digression on my own thread.

[IhaveChillyToes]

Just watched the lovely channel 5 show with DH

I think it is lovely that he was made a Sir by Prince William, married his fiancé of 40 years, came out of hospital and died in the house he was born in and lived in for 90 years

He had sold out shows booked for next month, each show lasted up to 5 hours long for a man aged 90 - which is amazing IMHO

So he died happy just as he had lived his life wanting to make his audience happy and they obviously were given how many sold out shows he did each year

[LapdanceShoeshine]

I am also struck by his accent. Watching the tribute shows. It bears no relation to the ‘scouse’ accent so prevalent nowadays

Well - his background was pretty comfortable! From an interview last November, at his house in Knotty Ash:

‘The house, built in 1782, is a rambling mansion that has been in the family for generations and is currently having a new library-cum-study added.’

Scouse is to Liverpool what Cockney/Estuary is to London. It’s not compulsory

[tiredbutFuckIt]

I can hear the difference in generations- Beatles era is different to my era, plus the generation below me are different again
Also thee are variations by area of Liverpool. Ken was quite posh.

[TheNaze73]

I do think it’s scandalous in 2018, they had to get married to avoid tax. It’s so wrong

[Bluelady]

Why is it wrong?

[BringMeTea]

Right. Yes, of course there are social factors at play. Interesting to hear that you perceive a change over time Tired.

[clarrylove]

I think it is an insult to his long term partner. Why would he not marry her before?

[angstinabaggyjumper]

I thought the marriage had to be consummated for it to be legal...not that I would like to cast aspersions on Ken's abilities three days before he passed? But.