Les Dawson - Revision history

Kurt at 04:04, 7 February 2023

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	~~{{short description\|English comedian}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2020}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=January 2013}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\|name = Les Dawson		\|name = Les Dawson

Kurt: /* External links */

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External links

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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Portal\|Biography}}~~
	~~{{wikiquote}}~~
	* {{IMDb name\|0206184}}		* {{IMDb name\|0206184}}

	~~{{S-start}}~~
	~~{{s-bef\|before = [[Terry Wogan]]}}~~
	~~{{s-ttl\|title = Host of ''[[Blankety Blank]]''\|years = 1984–1990}}~~
	~~{{s-aft\|after = [[Paul O'Grady]] \|as=Lily Savage}}~~
	~~{{S-end}}~~

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Les}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Les}}

Kurt: /* Early life */

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Early life

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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Les Dawson was born in [[w:Collyhurst\|Collyhurst]], Manchester, on 2 February 1931,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Les Dawson {{!}} British comedian \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024233809/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|archive-date=24 October 2019 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] \|language=en}}</ref> the only child of bricklayer Leslie Dawson, Sr. and Julia Nolan, who was of Irish descent.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=51827\|title=Dawson, Leslie [Les] (1931–1993)}}</ref> His first job was in the parcels department of the Manchester [[w:The Co-operative Group\|Co-op]].<ref name=Smurthwaite>{{cite news		Les Dawson was born in [[w:Collyhurst\|Collyhurst]], Manchester, on 2 February 1931,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Les Dawson {{!}} British comedian \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024233809/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|archive-date=24 October 2019 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[w:Encyclopedia Britannica]] \|language=en}}</ref> the only child of bricklayer Leslie Dawson, Sr. and Julia Nolan, who was of Irish descent.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=51827\|title=Dawson, Leslie [Les] (1931–1993)}}</ref> His first job was in the parcels department of the Manchester [[w:The Co-operative Group\|Co-op]].<ref name=Smurthwaite>{{cite news
	\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-les-dawson-1490938.html \| title=Obituary: Les Dawson \| first=Nick \| last=Smurthwaite \| date=11 June 1993 \| newspaper=The Independent \| access-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref> He worked briefly as a journalist on the ''[[w:The Bolton News\|Bury Times]]''.<ref name=Smurthwaite/>		\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-les-dawson-1490938.html \| title=Obituary: Les Dawson \| first=Nick \| last=Smurthwaite \| date=11 June 1993 \| newspaper=The Independent \| access-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref> He worked briefly as a journalist on the ''[[w:The Bolton News\|Bury Times]]''.<ref name=Smurthwaite/>

Kurt: /* Television */

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Television

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	==Television==		==Television==
	* ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)\|Opportunity Knocks]]'' (1967) and (1990)		* ''[[w:Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)\|Opportunity Knocks]]'' (1967) and (1990)
	* ''[[Fast Friends (TV series)\|Fast Friends]]'' (1991)		* ''[[w:Fast Friends (TV series)\|Fast Friends]]'' (1991)
	* ''[[Blankety Blank]]'' (1984–90; 124 episodes)		* ''[[w:Blankety Blank\|Blankety Blank]]'' (1984–90; 124 episodes)
	* ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76)		* ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76)
	* ''[[Jokers Wild (TV series)\|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73)		* ''[[w:Jokers Wild (TV series)\|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73)
	* ''The Loner'' (1975)		* ''The Loner'' (1975)
	* ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80)		* ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80)
	* ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1979–89)		* ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1979–89)
	* ''[[The Grand Knockout Tournament]]''		* ''[[w:The Grand Knockout Tournament\|The Grand Knockout Tournament]]''
	* ''Nona'' in ''[[Performance (British TV series)]]'' (1991)		* ''Nona'' in ''[[w:Performance (British TV series)\|Performance]]'' (1991)

	==References==		==References==

Kurt: /* Legacy */

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Legacy

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	==Legacy==		==Legacy==
	On 23 October 2008, 15 years after his death, a bronze statue by Graham Ibbeson was unveiled by his widow Tracy and daughter Charlotte in the ornamental gardens next to the pier in [[Lytham St Annes\|St Anne's-on-Sea]], Lancashire, where Dawson lived for many years.<ref name="BBC7685723">{{cite news \|title=Dawson statue unveiled by family \|publisher=[[bbc.co.uk]] \|date=23 October 2008 \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7685723.stm \|access-date=13 November 2008}}</ref>		On 23 October 2008, 15 years after his death, a bronze statue by Graham Ibbeson was unveiled by his widow Tracy and daughter Charlotte in the ornamental gardens next to the pier in [[w:Lytham St Annes\|St Anne's-on-Sea]], Lancashire, where Dawson lived for many years.<ref name="BBC7685723">{{cite news \|title=Dawson statue unveiled by family \|publisher=[[w:bbc.co.uk\|]] \|date=23 October 2008 \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7685723.stm \|access-date=13 November 2008}}</ref>

	In the ''Comedians' Comedian'', a three-hour programme on UK's [[Channel 4]] on 1 January 2005, Dawson was 37th in the top 50 comedians of all time, voted by fellow comedians and business insiders.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2004/12/01/26/the_comedians_comedian\|title=The comedians' comedian\|date=1 December 2004\|work=Chortle.co.uk\|access-date=1 February 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130115750/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2004/12/01/26/the_comedians_comedian\|archive-date=30 January 2016}}</ref>		In the ''Comedians' Comedian'', a three-hour programme on UK's [[w:Channel 4\|Channel 4]] on {{date\|1 January 2005}}, Dawson was 37th in the top 50 comedians of all time, voted by fellow comedians and business insiders.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2004/12/01/26/the_comedians_comedian\|title=The comedians' comedian\|date=1 December 2004\|work=Chortle.co.uk\|access-date=1 February 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130115750/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2004/12/01/26/the_comedians_comedian\|archive-date=30 January 2016}}</ref>

	The BBC broadcast, on [[BBC Two]], ''The Many Faces of Les Dawson'', a retrospective, on Christmas Eve 2011.		The BBC broadcast, on [[w:BBC Two\|BBC Two]], ''The Many Faces of Les Dawson'', a retrospective, on Christmas Eve 2011.

	On 1 June 2013 [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] broadcast ''Les Dawson: An Audience with That Never Was''. The programme featured a [[Pepper's ghost]] projection of Dawson, presenting content for a 1993 edition of ''[[An Audience with...]]'' to be hosted by Dawson but unused due to his death two weeks before recording.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Brian \|last=Logan \|title=Can a hologram Les Dawson tell 'em like he used to?\|newspaper=The Guardian \|date= 31 May 2013\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/31/hologram-les-dawson-comedian-last-show \|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> The show served as a tribute and featured celebrities including [[Bruce Forsyth]], Cilla Black, [[Terry Wogan]] and [[Ken Dodd]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://tvguide.co.uk/detail.asp?id=158021263\|title=TV Guide UK TV Guide- UK's No 1 TV Listing site for Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat & BT Vision\|last=TVGuide\|website=TVGuide.co.uk\|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref> Also among the audience were Dawson's widow Tracy and daughter Charlotte.		On 1 June 2013 [[w:ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] broadcast ''Les Dawson: An Audience with That Never Was''. The programme featured a [[w:Pepper's ghost\|Pepper's ghost]] projection of Dawson, presenting content for a 1993 edition of ''[[w:An Audience with...\|An Audience with...]]'' to be hosted by Dawson but unused due to his death two weeks before recording.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Brian \|last=Logan \|title=Can a hologram Les Dawson tell 'em like he used to?\|newspaper=The Guardian \|date= 31 May 2013\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/31/hologram-les-dawson-comedian-last-show \|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> The show served as a tribute and featured celebrities including [[Bruce Forsyth]], [[w:Cilla Black\|Cilla Black]], [[w:Terry Wogan\|Terry Wogan]] and [[Ken Dodd]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://tvguide.co.uk/detail.asp?id=158021263\|title=TV Guide UK TV Guide- UK's No 1 TV Listing site for Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat & BT Vision\|last=TVGuide\|website=TVGuide.co.uk\|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref> Also among the audience were Dawson's widow Tracy and daughter Charlotte.

	On 10 February 2014, the BBC reported that Dawson's daughter Charlotte had found a 110-page "unpublished story of love and mystery, titled ''An Echo of Shadows'', [that] was written under the name Maria Brett-Cooper...".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26065349 "Les Dawson wrote secret romantic novel in woman's name"] at BBC News, accessed 13 September 2014.</ref>		On 10 February 2014, the BBC reported that Dawson's daughter Charlotte had found a 110-page "unpublished story of love and mystery, titled ''An Echo of Shadows'', [that] was written under the name Maria Brett-Cooper...".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26065349 "Les Dawson wrote secret romantic novel in woman's name"] at BBC News, accessed 13 September 2014.</ref>

	In 2020, Les Dawson's early years in Paris were portrayed in [[Sky Arts\|Sky Arts']] series ''[[Urban Myths]]'' in the episode ''Les Dawson's Parisienne Adventure'', with [[Mark Addy]] as the older Les and [[John Bradley (English actor)\|John Bradley]] as young Les.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13188544/?ref_=ttep_ep1\|title=IMDb - Urban Myths - Les Dawson's Parisienne Adventure\|access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref>		In 2020, Les Dawson's early years in Paris were portrayed in [[w:Sky Arts\|Sky Arts']] series ''[[w:Urban Myths\|Urban Myths]]'' in the episode ''Les Dawson's Parisienne Adventure'', with [[w:Mark Addy\|Mark Addy]] as the older Les and [[w:John Bradley (English actor)\|John Bradley]] as young Les.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13188544/?ref_=ttep_ep1\|title=IMDb - Urban Myths - Les Dawson's Parisienne Adventure\|access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref>

	In 2022, [[Jon Culshaw]] will be portraying Dawson as part of The Edinburgh Assembly’s Fringe programme.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Impressionist Jon Culshaw on paying a heartfelt tribute to Les Dawson with his new Edinburgh Festival Fringe \|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/impressionist-jon-culshaw-on-paying-a-heartfelt-tribute-to-les-dawson-with-his-new-edinburgh-festival-fringe-show-3641590 \|access-date=2022-04-06 \|website=www.scotsman.com \|language=en}}</ref>		In 2022, [[w:Jon Culshaw\|Jon Culshaw]] will be portraying Dawson as part of The Edinburgh Assembly’s Fringe programme.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Impressionist Jon Culshaw on paying a heartfelt tribute to Les Dawson with his new Edinburgh Festival Fringe \|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/impressionist-jon-culshaw-on-paying-a-heartfelt-tribute-to-les-dawson-with-his-new-edinburgh-festival-fringe-show-3641590 \|access-date=2022-04-06 \|website=www.scotsman.com \|language=en}}</ref>

	==Books==		==Books==

Kurt: /* Personal life and death */

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Personal life and death

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	Dawson was married to his first wife, Margaret, from 25 June 1960 until her death on 15 April 1986 from cancer. They had three children: Julie, Pamela and Stuart.		Dawson was married to his first wife, Margaret, from 25 June 1960 until her death on 15 April 1986 from cancer. They had three children: Julie, Pamela and Stuart.

	Dawson nearly died in February 1985 from a failing [[prostate gland]], complicated by [[blood poisoning]].<ref name="t&t">{{cite book \|last=Dawson \|first=Les \|author-link= \|date=1985 \|title=A Clown Too Many \|url= \|location= \|publisher=Fontana/Collins \|page=266 \|isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref> On 3 September 1988, he suffered a heart attack in Blackpool and spent nine days in hospital.<ref>Liverpool Echo - 5 September 1988.</ref>		Dawson nearly died in February 1985 from a failing [[w:prostate gland\|prostate gland]], complicated by [[w:blood poisoning\|blood poisoning]].<ref name="t&t">{{cite book \|last=Dawson \|first=Les \|author-link= \|date=1985 \|title=A Clown Too Many \|url= \|location= \|publisher=Fontana/Collins \|page=266 \|isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref> On 3 September 1988, he suffered a heart attack in Blackpool and spent nine days in hospital.<ref>Liverpool Echo - 5 September 1988.</ref>

	He married his second wife, Tracy Roper, on 6 May 1989; she was 17 years younger.<ref name="ODNB" /><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Simpson \|first=John \|date=2019-02-19 \|title=Les Dawson \|url=https://britishcomedyradio.org/les-dawson/ \|access-date=2022-08-02 \|website=British Comedy Radio \|language=en-US}}</ref> They had a daughter, [[Charlotte Dawson (English TV personality)\|Charlotte]], who was born on 3 October 1992.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/charlotte-dawson-enjoys-night-out-10115744\|title=Charlotte Dawson has a night out in Barcelona with her mum Tracy\|first=Jennifer\|last=Crothers\|date=28 March 2017\|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref>		He married his second wife, Tracy Roper, on 6 May 1989; she was 17 years younger.<ref name="ODNB" /><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Simpson \|first=John \|date=2019-02-19 \|title=Les Dawson \|url=https://britishcomedyradio.org/les-dawson/ \|access-date=2022-08-02 \|website=British Comedy Radio \|language=en-US}}</ref> They had a daughter, [[w:Charlotte Dawson (English TV personality)\|Charlotte]], who was born on 3 October 1992.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/charlotte-dawson-enjoys-night-out-10115744\|title=Charlotte Dawson has a night out in Barcelona with her mum Tracy\|first=Jennifer\|last=Crothers\|date=28 March 2017\|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref>

	He died suddenly, aged 62, in June 1993 from a heart attack during treatment for a heart complaint at St Joseph's Hospital in Manchester.<ref name="ODNB"/>		He died suddenly, aged 62, in June 1993 from a heart attack during treatment for a heart complaint at St Joseph's Hospital in Manchester.<ref name="ODNB"/>

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Career

Kurt at 00:24, 20 August 2022

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en>TrottieTrue: /* Personal life and death */ added references

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Personal life and death: added references

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{{short description|English comedian}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Les Dawson
|image = Les Dawson.jpg
|image_size =
|birth_name = Leslie Dawson Jr.
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|2|2}}
|birth_place = [[Collyhurst]], [[Manchester]], England
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1993|6|10|1931|2|2}}
|death_place = [[Whalley Range, Manchester|Whalley Range]], Manchester, England
|resting_place = Lytham Park Cemetery and Crematorium, [[Lytham St Annes]], [[Lancashire]], England
|occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|actor|writer|presenter}}
|years_active = 1956–1993
|spouse = {{marriage|Margaret Rose Plant|1960|1986|reason=her death}}<ref>The Annual Obituary, St James Press, 1993, p. 464</ref><br />{{marriage|Tracy Roper|1989}}
|children = 4
}}

'''Leslie Dawson Jr.''' (2 February 1931 – 10 June 1993) was an English comedian, actor, writer, and presenter, who is best remembered for his [[deadpan]] style, curmudgeonly persona and [[Mother-in-law joke|jokes about his mother-in-law]] and wife.

==Early life==
Les Dawson was born at [[Collyhurst]], Manchester, on 2 February 1931,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les Dawson {{!}} British comedian |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024233809/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson |archive-date=24 October 2019 |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> the only child of bricklayer Leslie Dawson, Sr. and Julia Nolan, who was of Irish descent.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=51827|title=Dawson, Leslie [Les] (1931–1993)}}</ref> His first job was in the parcels department of the Manchester [[The Co-operative Group|Co-op]].<ref name=Smurthwaite>{{cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-les-dawson-1490938.html | title=Obituary: Les Dawson | first=Nick | last=Smurthwaite | date=11 June 1993 | newspaper=The Independent | access-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref> He worked briefly as a journalist on the ''[[The Bolton News|Bury Times]]''.<ref name=Smurthwaite/>

==Career==
Early in life, Dawson wrote poetry and kept it secret. It was not expected that someone of his [[working class]] background would have literary ambitions. In a BBC Television documentary, he spoke of his love for canonical figures in [[English literature]], in particular the 19th-century essayist [[Charles Lamb (writer)|Charles Lamb]], whose florid style influenced Dawson's. He did, moreover, appear with The Nelson Players in [[Nelson, Lancashire]] as Mr. Justice Wainwright and Carter, chief clerk to Sir Wilfrid Robarts Q.C. in Agatha Christie's play ''[[Witness for the Prosecution (play)|Witness for the Prosecution]]'' in December 1956.

Dawson claimed in his autobiography that he began entertaining as a pianist in a [[Paris]]ian brothel. Making a living as a pianist evolved into comedy when he got laughs by playing wrong notes and complaining to the audience. He made his television debut on the talent show ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|Opportunity Knocks]]'' in 1967 and worked as a comic on British television for the rest of his life.

Television series in which he appeared included the [[panel game]] ''[[Jokers Wild (TV series)|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73) hosted by [[Barry Cryer]], ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76) and ''Dawson's Weekly'' (1975), all for [[Yorkshire Television]]. After joining the BBC, his TV projects were ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80), written by [[Andy Hamilton]] and Terry Ravenscroft, ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1978–87), written by Terry Ravenscroft, and the quiz show ''[[Blankety Blank]]'', which he presented from 1984 until its cancellation in 1990. Dawson starred in ''[[Listen to Les]]'' on [[BBC Radio 2]] in the 1970s and 1980s.

He made many appearances on BBC Television's variety show, ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1970s and 1980s. Dawson co-hosted [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Prince Edward]]'s charity television special ''[[The Grand Knockout Tournament]]'' in 1987. When [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]] turned down the part of [[Victor Meldrew]] in the BBC sitcom ''[[One Foot In The Grave]]'', writer [[David Renwick]] considered Dawson for the role, but Wilson changed his mind before it was offered.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/26/victor-meldrew-role-les-dawson-one-foot-grave-in-grave-richard-wilson|title=I don't believe it! Victor Meldrew role almost went to Les Dawson|first=John|last=Plunkett|date=26 July 2016|via=The Guardian}}</ref>

In 1991, Dawson starred in the BBC television production of ''Nona'', an adaptation of the 1977 play ''La Nona'' ("Grandma") by [[Roberto Cossa]] for the ''[[Performance (TV series)|Performance]]'' series. Performing in drag, he was cast as a 100-year old, compulsive eater in a [[Buenos Aires]] household.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7b749ff0|title = Nona (1991)}}</ref>

Dawson was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in December 1971 when [[Eamonn Andrews]] surprised him on ''Opportunity Knocks'',{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} and again 21 years later, in what would be one of his last television appearances, when he was surprised by [[Michael Aspel]] on stage at the [[Theatre Royal, Plymouth|Theatre Royal]], [[Plymouth]], at the curtain call of the pantomime ''Dick Whittington'' in December 1992.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} His final TV appearance was on the LWT series ''[[Surprise, Surprise (TV series)|Surprise, Surprise]]'' hosted by [[Cilla Black]], in which he sang a comic rendition of "I Got You Babe" with a woman from the audience who wanted to sing with him. The episode was aired shortly after his death.

Dawson was a heavy smoker and drinker. When not working he would often drink a bottle of whisky and smoke 50 cigarettes a day.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/29/les-dawson-wife-daughter-joke-book | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Nick |last=McGrath | title=Looking after Les Dawson's legacy| date=29 September 2012|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Dawson was initiated into the famous show business fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as that order's "King Rat" in 1985.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

Dawson also wrote novels.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Dipper |url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/ray-peacocks-tribute-to-les-dawson/ |title=Ray Peacock's tribute to Les Dawson |date=9 September 2013 |work=Giggle Beats |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> He told his second wife, Tracey, "Always remind them – I was a writer too."<ref>"The Unforgettable Les Dawson", ITV, 11 December 2000</ref>

===Routines and image===
His characteristic routines featured [[Roy Barraclough]] and Dawson as elderly women, [[Cissie and Ada|Cissie Braithwaite and Ada Shufflebotham]]. Barraclough's character Cissie had pretensions of refinement and corrected Ada's [[malapropism]]s or vulgar expressions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: Steve Nallon #1 – "A celebration of Les"
|date=12 September 2013 |first=John-Paul |last=Stephenson |url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/interview-steve-nallon-1-a-celebration-of-les/|work=Giggle Beats}}</ref> As authentic characters of their day, they spoke some words aloud but mouthed others, particularly those pertaining to bodily functions and sex. The characters were based on those Les Dawson knew in real life. He explained that this mouthing of words (or "mee-mawing") was a habit of [[Lancashire]] [[Cotton mill|millworkers]] communicating over the loud noise of [[loom]]s, then resorted to in daily life for indelicate subjects. To further portray the reality of northern, working-class women, Cissie and Ada would sit with folded arms, occasionally adjusting their bosoms by a hoist of the forearms. Many Cissie and Ada sketches were written by Terry Ravenscroft. This was also typical of [[pantomime]] dame style, an act copied from his hero, [[Norman Evans]] and his act ''Over the Garden Wall''. Les Dawson was portly and often dressed in [[John Bull]] costume. He introduced to his BBC television shows a dancing group of fat ladies called the Roly Polys. Dawson's style as a comic was world-weary, lugubrious and earthy.

He was a talented pianist but developed a gag in which he played a familiar piece such as [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Moonlight Sonata]]'' and then introduced hideously wrong notes (yet not destroying the tune) without appearing to realise, smiling unctuously and relishing the accuracy and soul of his own performance.

Having broken his jaw in a [[boxing]] match, he could pull grotesque faces by pulling his jaw over his upper lip. This is described in the first volume of Dawson's autobiography ''A Clown Too Many''.<ref name="jawbreak">{{cite book |last=Dawson |first=Les |author-link= |date=1985 |title=A Clown Too Many |url= |location= |publisher=Fontana/Collins |page=124 |isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Dawson was married to his first wife, Margaret, from 25 June 1960 until her death on 15 April 1986 from cancer. They had three children: Julie, Pamela and Stuart.

Dawson nearly died in February 1985 from a failing [[prostate gland]], complicated by [[blood poisoning]].<ref name="t&t">{{cite book |last=Dawson |first=Les |author-link= |date=1985 |title=A Clown Too Many |url= |location= |publisher=Fontana/Collins |page=266 |isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref> On 3 September 1988, he suffered a heart attack in Blackpool and spent nine days in hospital.<ref>Liverpool Echo - 5 September 1988.</ref>

He married his second wife, Tracy Roper, on 6 May 1989; she was 17 years younger.<ref name="ODNB" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=John |date=2019-02-19 |title=Les Dawson |url=https://britishcomedyradio.org/les-dawson/ |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=British Comedy Radio |language=en-US}}</ref> They had a daughter, [[Charlotte Dawson (English TV personality)|Charlotte]], who was born on 3 October 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/charlotte-dawson-enjoys-night-out-10115744|title=Charlotte Dawson has a night out in Barcelona with her mum Tracy|first=Jennifer|last=Crothers|date=28 March 2017|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref>

He died suddenly, aged 62, in June 1993 from a heart attack during treatment for a heart complaint at St Joseph's Hospital in Manchester.<ref name="ODNB"/>

==Legacy==
On 23 October 2008, 15 years after his death, a bronze statue by Graham Ibbeson was unveiled by his widow Tracy and daughter Charlotte in the ornamental gardens next to the pier in [[Lytham St Annes|St Anne's-on-Sea]], Lancashire, where Dawson lived for many years.<ref name="BBC7685723">{{cite news |title=Dawson statue unveiled by family |publisher=[[bbc.co.uk]] |date=23 October 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7685723.stm |access-date=13 November 2008}}</ref>

In the ''Comedians' Comedian'', a three-hour programme on UK's [[Channel 4]] on 1 January 2005, Dawson was 37th in the top 50 comedians of all time, voted by fellow comedians and business insiders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2004/12/01/26/the_comedians_comedian|title=The comedians' comedian|date=1 December 2004|work=Chortle.co.uk|access-date=1 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130115750/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2004/12/01/26/the_comedians_comedian|archive-date=30 January 2016}}</ref>

The BBC broadcast, on [[BBC Two]], ''The Many Faces of Les Dawson'', a retrospective, on Christmas Eve 2011.

On 1 June 2013 [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] broadcast ''Les Dawson: An Audience with That Never Was''. The programme featured a [[Pepper's ghost]] projection of Dawson, presenting content for a 1993 edition of ''[[An Audience with...]]'' to be hosted by Dawson but unused due to his death two weeks before recording.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Logan |title=Can a hologram Les Dawson tell 'em like he used to?|newspaper=The Guardian |date= 31 May 2013|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/31/hologram-les-dawson-comedian-last-show |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> The show served as a tribute and featured celebrities including [[Bruce Forsyth]], Cilla Black, [[Terry Wogan]] and [[Ken Dodd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvguide.co.uk/detail.asp?id=158021263|title=TV Guide UK TV Guide- UK's No 1 TV Listing site for Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat & BT Vision|last=TVGuide|website=TVGuide.co.uk|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref> Also among the audience were Dawson's widow Tracy and daughter Charlotte.

On 10 February 2014, the BBC reported that Dawson's daughter Charlotte had found a 110-page "unpublished story of love and mystery, titled ''An Echo of Shadows'', [that] was written under the name Maria Brett-Cooper...".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26065349 "Les Dawson wrote secret romantic novel in woman's name"] at BBC News, accessed 13 September 2014.</ref>

In 2020, Les Dawson's early years in Paris were portrayed in [[Sky Arts|Sky Arts']] series ''[[Urban Myths]]'' in the episode ''Les Dawson's Parisienne Adventure'', with [[Mark Addy]] as the older Les and [[John Bradley (English actor)|John Bradley]] as young Les.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13188544/?ref_=ttep_ep1|title=IMDb - Urban Myths - Les Dawson's Parisienne Adventure|access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref>

In 2022, [[Jon Culshaw]] will be portraying Dawson as part of The Edinburgh Assembly’s Fringe programme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Impressionist Jon Culshaw on paying a heartfelt tribute to Les Dawson with his new Edinburgh Festival Fringe |url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/impressionist-jon-culshaw-on-paying-a-heartfelt-tribute-to-les-dawson-with-his-new-edinburgh-festival-fringe-show-3641590 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.scotsman.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Books==

Fiction:
* ''Card for the Clubs'' (1974)
* ''The Spy Who Came...'' (1976)
* ''Cosmo Smallpiece Guide to Male Liberation'' (1979)
* ''The Amy Pluckett Letters'' (1982)/''Hitler Was My Mother-in-Law'' (1984)*
* ''A Time Before Genesis'' (1986)
* ''Come Back with the Wind'' (1990)
* ''Well Fared, My Lovely'' (1991)
* ''The Blade and the Passion'' (1994)

Non-Fiction:
* ''Les Dawson's Lancashire'' (1983)
* ''A Clown Too Many'' (autobiography, 1986)
* ''No Tears for the Clown'' (autobiography, 1992)
* ''Malady Lingers on and Other Great Groaners''
* ''Les Dawson Gives Up''
* ''The Les Dawson Joke Book''
* ''Les Dawson's Secret Notebooks''

* Title changed for paperback release.<ref name="motherinlaw">{{cite book |last=Dawson |first=Les |author-link= |date=1985 |title=A Clown Too Many |url= |location= |publisher=Fontana/Collins |page=257 |isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref>

==Television==
* ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|Opportunity Knocks]]'' (1967) and (1990)
* ''[[Fast Friends (TV series)|Fast Friends]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Blankety Blank]]'' (1984–90; 124 episodes)
* ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76)
* ''[[Jokers Wild (TV series)|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73)
* ''The Loner'' (1975)
* ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80)
* ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1979–89)
* ''[[The Grand Knockout Tournament]]''
* ''Nona'' in ''[[Performance (British TV series)]]'' (1991)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|0206184}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Terry Wogan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = Host of ''[[Blankety Blank]]''|years = 1984–1990}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Paul O'Grady]] |as=Lily Savage}}
{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Les}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English writers]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Comedians from Manchester]]
[[Category:Actors from Manchester]]
[[Category:English game show hosts]]
[[Category:English stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English comedy writers]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:English satirists]]
[[Category:English humorists]]
[[Category:Pantomime dames]]
[[Category:People from Collyhurst]]
[[Category:People from Lytham St Annes]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century English male writers]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:44, 6 September 2022
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	Dawson claimed in his autobiography that he began entertaining as a pianist in a [[w:Paris\|Paris]]ian brothel. Making a living as a pianist evolved into comedy when he got laughs by playing wrong notes and complaining to the audience. He made his television debut on the talent show ''[[w:Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)\|Opportunity Knocks]]'' in 1967 and worked as a comic on British television for the rest of his life.		Dawson claimed in his autobiography that he began entertaining as a pianist in a [[w:Paris\|Paris]]ian brothel. Making a living as a pianist evolved into comedy when he got laughs by playing wrong notes and complaining to the audience. He made his television debut on the talent show ''[[w:Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)\|Opportunity Knocks]]'' in 1967 and worked as a comic on British television for the rest of his life.

	Television series in which he appeared included the [[w:panel game]] ''[[w:Jokers Wild (TV series)\|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73) hosted by [[Barry Cryer]], ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76) and ''Dawson's Weekly'' (1975), all for [[w:Yorkshire Television\|Yorkshire Television]]. After joining the BBC, his TV projects were ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80), written by [[w:Andy Hamilton\|Andy Hamilton]] and Terry Ravenscroft, ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1978–87), written by Terry Ravenscroft, and the quiz show ''[[w;Blankety Blank\|w;Blankety Blank]]'', which he presented from 1984 until its cancellation in 1990. Dawson starred in ''[[Listen to Les]]'' on [[w;BBC Radio 2\|w;BBC Radio 2]] in the 1970s and 1980s.		Television series in which he appeared included the [[w:panel game]] ''[[w:Jokers Wild (TV series)\|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73) hosted by [[Barry Cryer]], ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76) and ''Dawson's Weekly'' (1975), all for [[w:Yorkshire Television\|Yorkshire Television]]. After joining the BBC, his TV projects were ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80), written by [[w:Andy Hamilton\|Andy Hamilton]] and Terry Ravenscroft, ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1978–87), written by Terry Ravenscroft, and the quiz show ''[[w:Blankety Blank\|Blankety Blank]]'', which he presented from 1984 until its cancellation in 1990. Dawson starred in ''[[Listen to Les]]'' on [[w:BBC Radio 2\|w;BBC Radio 2]] in the 1970s and 1980s.

	He made many appearances on BBC Television's variety show, ''[[w:The Good Old Days (UK TV series)\|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1970s and 1980s. Dawson co-hosted [[w:Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex\|Prince Edward]]'s charity television special ''[[w:The Grand Knockout Tournament\|The Grand Knockout Tournament]]'' in 1987. When [[w:Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)\|Richard Wilson]] turned down the part of [[Victor Meldrew]] in the BBC sitcom ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]'', writer [[w:David Renwick\|David Renwick]] considered Dawson for the role, but Wilson changed his mind before it was offered.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/26/victor-meldrew-role-les-dawson-one-foot-grave-in-grave-richard-wilson\|title=I don't believe it! Victor Meldrew role almost went to Les Dawson\|first=John\|last=Plunkett\|date=26 July 2016\|via=The Guardian}}</ref>		He made many appearances on BBC Television's variety show, ''[[w:The Good Old Days (UK TV series)\|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1970s and 1980s. Dawson co-hosted [[w:Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex\|Prince Edward]]'s charity television special ''[[w:The Grand Knockout Tournament\|The Grand Knockout Tournament]]'' in 1987. When [[w:Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)\|Richard Wilson]] turned down the part of [[Victor Meldrew]] in the BBC sitcom ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]'', writer [[w:David Renwick\|David Renwick]] considered Dawson for the role, but Wilson changed his mind before it was offered.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/26/victor-meldrew-role-les-dawson-one-foot-grave-in-grave-richard-wilson\|title=I don't believe it! Victor Meldrew role almost went to Les Dawson\|first=John\|last=Plunkett\|date=26 July 2016\|via=The Guardian}}</ref>
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	Dawson was the subject of ''[[w:This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in December 1971 when [[w:Eamonn Andrews\|Eamonn Andrews]] surprised him on ''Opportunity Knocks'', and again 21 years later, in what would be one of his last television appearances, when he was surprised by [[w:Michael Aspel\|Michael Aspel]] on stage at the [[w:Theatre Royal, Plymouth\|Theatre Royal]], [[w:Plymouth\|Plymouth]], at the curtain call of the pantomime ''Dick Whittington'' in December 1992. His final TV appearance was on the LWT series ''[[w:Surprise, Surprise (TV series)\|Surprise, Surprise]]'' hosted by [[w:Cilla Black\|Cilla Black]], in which he sang a comic rendition of "I Got You Babe" with a woman from the audience who wanted to sing with him. The episode was aired shortly after his death.		Dawson was the subject of ''[[w:This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in December 1971 when [[w:Eamonn Andrews\|Eamonn Andrews]] surprised him on ''Opportunity Knocks'', and again 21 years later, in what would be one of his last television appearances, when he was surprised by [[w:Michael Aspel\|Michael Aspel]] on stage at the [[w:Theatre Royal, Plymouth\|Theatre Royal]], [[w:Plymouth\|Plymouth]], at the curtain call of the pantomime ''Dick Whittington'' in December 1992. His final TV appearance was on the LWT series ''[[w:Surprise, Surprise (TV series)\|Surprise, Surprise]]'' hosted by [[w:Cilla Black\|Cilla Black]], in which he sang a comic rendition of "I Got You Babe" with a woman from the audience who wanted to sing with him. The episode was aired shortly after his death.

	Dawson was a heavy smoker and drinker. When not working he would often drink a bottle of whisky and smoke 50 cigarettes a day.<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/29/les-dawson-wife-daughter-joke-book \| location=London \| work=The Guardian \| first=Nick \|last=McGrath \| title=Looking after Les Dawson's legacy\| date=29 September 2012\|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Dawson was initiated into the famous show business fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as that order's "King Rat" in 1985.		Dawson was a heavy smoker and drinker. When not working he would often drink a bottle of whisky and smoke 50 cigarettes a day.<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/29/les-dawson-wife-daughter-joke-book \| location=London \| work=The Guardian \| first=Nick \|last=McGrath \| title=Looking after Les Dawson's legacy\| date=29 September 2012\|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Dawson was initiated into the famous show business fraternity, the [[w:Grand Order of Water Rats\|Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as that order's "King Rat" in 1985.

	Dawson also wrote novels.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Andrew \|last=Dipper \|url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/ray-peacocks-tribute-to-les-dawson/ \|title=Ray Peacock's tribute to Les Dawson \|date=9 September 2013 \|work=Giggle Beats \|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> He told his second wife, Tracey, "Always remind them – I was a writer too."<ref>"The Unforgettable Les Dawson", ITV, 11 December 2000</ref>		Dawson also wrote novels.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Andrew \|last=Dipper \|url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/ray-peacocks-tribute-to-les-dawson/ \|title=Ray Peacock's tribute to Les Dawson \|date=9 September 2013 \|work=Giggle Beats \|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> He told his second wife, Tracey, "Always remind them – I was a writer too."<ref>"The Unforgettable Les Dawson", ITV, 11 December 2000</ref>

	===Routines and image===		===Routines and image===
	His characteristic routines featured [[Roy Barraclough]] and Dawson as elderly women, [[Cissie and Ada\|Cissie Braithwaite and Ada Shufflebotham]]. Barraclough's character Cissie had pretensions of refinement and corrected Ada's [[malapropism]]s or vulgar expressions.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Interview: Steve Nallon #1 – "A celebration of Les"		His characteristic routines featured [[Roy Barraclough]] and Dawson as elderly women, [[Cissie and Ada\|Cissie Braithwaite and Ada Shufflebotham]]. Barraclough's character Cissie had pretensions of refinement and corrected Ada's [[w:malapropism\|malapropism]]s or vulgar expressions.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Interview: Steve Nallon #1 – "A celebration of Les"
	\|date=12 September 2013 \|first=John-Paul \|last=Stephenson \|url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/interview-steve-nallon-1-a-celebration-of-les/\|work=Giggle Beats}}</ref> As authentic characters of their day, they spoke some words aloud but mouthed others, particularly those pertaining to bodily functions and sex. The characters were based on those Les Dawson knew in real life. He explained that this mouthing of words (or "mee-mawing") was a habit of [[Lancashire]] [[Cotton mill\|millworkers]] communicating over the loud noise of [[loom]]s, then resorted to in daily life for indelicate subjects. To further portray the reality of northern, working-class women, Cissie and Ada would sit with folded arms, occasionally adjusting their bosoms by a hoist of the forearms. Many Cissie and Ada sketches were written by Terry Ravenscroft. This was also typical of [[pantomime]] dame style, an act copied from his hero, [[Norman Evans]] and his act ''Over the Garden Wall''. Les Dawson was portly and often dressed in [[John Bull]] costume. He introduced to his BBC television shows a dancing group of fat ladies called the Roly Polys. Dawson's style as a comic was world-weary, lugubrious and earthy.		\|date=12 September 2013 \|first=John-Paul \|last=Stephenson \|url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/interview-steve-nallon-1-a-celebration-of-les/\|work=Giggle Beats}}</ref> As authentic characters of their day, they spoke some words aloud but mouthed others, particularly those pertaining to bodily functions and sex. The characters were based on those Les Dawson knew in real life. He explained that this mouthing of words (or "mee-mawing") was a habit of [[w:Lancashire\|Lancashire]] [[w:Cotton mill\|millworkers]] communicating over the loud noise of [[w:loom\|loom]]s, then resorted to in daily life for indelicate subjects. To further portray the reality of northern, working-class women, Cissie and Ada would sit with folded arms, occasionally adjusting their bosoms by a hoist of the forearms. Many Cissie and Ada sketches were written by Terry Ravenscroft. This was also typical of [[w:pantomime\|pantomime]] dame style, an act copied from his hero, [[w:Norman Evans\|Norman Evans]] and his act ''Over the Garden Wall''. Les Dawson was portly and often dressed in [[w:John Bull\|John Bull]] costume. He introduced to his BBC television shows a dancing group of fat ladies called [[The Roly Polys\|the Roly Polys]]. Dawson's style as a comic was world-weary, lugubrious and earthy.

	He was a talented pianist but developed a gag in which he played a familiar piece such as [[Ludwig van Beethoven\|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Moonlight Sonata]]'' and then introduced hideously wrong notes (yet not destroying the tune) without appearing to realise, smiling unctuously and relishing the accuracy and soul of his own performance.		He was a talented pianist but developed a gag in which he played a familiar piece such as [[w:Ludwig van Beethoven\|Beethoven]]'s ''[[w:Moonlight Sonata\|Moonlight Sonata]]'' and then introduced hideously wrong notes (yet not destroying the tune) without appearing to realise, smiling unctuously and relishing the accuracy and soul of his own performance.

	Having broken his jaw in a [[boxing]] match, he could pull grotesque faces by pulling his jaw over his upper lip. This is described in the first volume of Dawson's autobiography ''A Clown Too Many''.<ref name="jawbreak">{{cite book \|last=Dawson \|first=Les \|author-link= \|date=1985 \|title=A Clown Too Many \|url= \|location= \|publisher=Fontana/Collins \|page=124 \|isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref>		Having broken his jaw in a [[w:boxing\|boxing]] match, he could pull grotesque faces by pulling his jaw over his upper lip (similar to [[w:Gurn\|gurning]]). This is described in the first volume of Dawson's autobiography ''A Clown Too Many''.<ref name="jawbreak">{{cite book \|last=Dawson \|first=Les \|author-link= \|date=1985 \|title=A Clown Too Many \|url= \|location= \|publisher=Fontana/Collins \|page=124 \|isbn=0-00-637067-5}}</ref>

	==Personal life and death==		==Personal life and death==

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:24, 19 August 2022
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	{{short description\|English comedian}}		{{short description\|English comedian}}
	~~{{more citations needed\|date=February 2014}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2020}}
	{{Use British English\|date=January 2013}}		{{Use British English\|date=January 2013}}
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	\|birth_name = Leslie Dawson Jr.		\|birth_name = Leslie Dawson Jr.
	\|birth_date = {{birth date\|df=yes\|1931\|2\|2}}		\|birth_date = {{birth date\|df=yes\|1931\|2\|2}}
	\|birth_place = [[Collyhurst]], [[Manchester]], England		\|birth_place = [[w:Collyhurst\|Collyhurst]], [[w:Manchester\|Manchester]], England
	\|death_date = {{death date and age\|df=yes\|1993\|6\|10\|1931\|2\|2}}		\|death_date = {{death date and age\|df=yes\|1993\|6\|10\|1931\|2\|2}}
	\|death_place = [[Whalley Range, Manchester\|Whalley Range]], Manchester, England		\|death_place = [[w:Whalley Range, Manchester\|Whalley Range]], Manchester, England
	\|resting_place = Lytham Park Cemetery and Crematorium, [[Lytham St Annes]], [[Lancashire]], England		\|resting_place = Lytham Park Cemetery and Crematorium, [[w:Lytham St Annes\|Lytham St Annes]], [[w:Lancashire\|Lancashire]], England
	\|occupation = {{hlist\|Comedian\|actor\|writer\|presenter}}		\|occupation = {{hlist\|Comedian\|actor\|writer\|presenter}}
	\|years_active = 1956–1993		\|years_active = 1956–1993
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	}}		}}

	'''Leslie Dawson Jr.''' (2 February 1931 – 10 June 1993) was an English comedian, actor, writer, and presenter, who is best remembered for his [[deadpan]] style, curmudgeonly persona and [[Mother-in-law joke\|jokes about his mother-in-law]] and wife.		'''Leslie Dawson Jr.''' (2 February 1931 – 10 June 1993) was an English comedian, actor, writer, and presenter, who is best remembered for his [[w:deadpan\|deadpan]] style, curmudgeonly persona and [[w:Mother-in-law joke\|jokes about his mother-in-law]] and wife.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Les Dawson was born at [[Collyhurst]], Manchester, on 2 February 1931,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Les Dawson {{!}} British comedian \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024233809/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|archive-date=24 October 2019 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] \|language=en}}</ref> the only child of bricklayer Leslie Dawson, Sr. and Julia Nolan, who was of Irish descent.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=51827\|title=Dawson, Leslie [Les] (1931–1993)}}</ref> His first job was in the parcels department of the Manchester [[The Co-operative Group\|Co-op]].<ref name=Smurthwaite>{{cite news		Les Dawson was born in [[w:Collyhurst\|Collyhurst]], Manchester, on 2 February 1931,<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Les Dawson {{!}} British comedian \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024233809/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Dawson \|archive-date=24 October 2019 \|access-date=25 April 2022 \|website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] \|language=en}}</ref> the only child of bricklayer Leslie Dawson, Sr. and Julia Nolan, who was of Irish descent.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB\|id=51827\|title=Dawson, Leslie [Les] (1931–1993)}}</ref> His first job was in the parcels department of the Manchester [[w:The Co-operative Group\|Co-op]].<ref name=Smurthwaite>{{cite news
	\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-les-dawson-1490938.html \| title=Obituary: Les Dawson \| first=Nick \| last=Smurthwaite \| date=11 June 1993 \| newspaper=The Independent \| access-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref> He worked briefly as a journalist on the ''[[The Bolton News\|Bury Times]]''.<ref name=Smurthwaite/>		\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-les-dawson-1490938.html \| title=Obituary: Les Dawson \| first=Nick \| last=Smurthwaite \| date=11 June 1993 \| newspaper=The Independent \| access-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref> He worked briefly as a journalist on the ''[[w:The Bolton News\|Bury Times]]''.<ref name=Smurthwaite/>

	==Career==		==Career==
	Early in life, Dawson wrote poetry and kept it secret. It was not expected that someone of his [[working class]] background would have literary ambitions. In a BBC Television documentary, he spoke of his love for canonical figures in [[English literature]], in particular the 19th-century essayist [[Charles Lamb (writer)\|Charles Lamb]], whose florid style influenced Dawson's. He did, moreover, appear with The Nelson Players in [[Nelson, Lancashire]] as Mr. Justice Wainwright and Carter, chief clerk to Sir Wilfrid Robarts Q.C. in Agatha Christie's play ''[[Witness for the Prosecution (play)\|Witness for the Prosecution]]'' in December 1956.		Early in life, Dawson wrote poetry and kept it secret. It was not expected that someone of his [[w:working class\|working class]] background would have literary ambitions. In a BBC Television documentary, he spoke of his love for [[w:canonical\|canonical]] figures in [[w:English literature\|English literature]], in particular the 19th-century essayist [[w:Charles Lamb (writer)\|Charles Lamb]], whose florid style influenced Dawson's. He did, moreover, appear with The Nelson Players in [[w:Nelson, Lancashire]] as Mr. Justice Wainwright and Carter, chief clerk to Sir Wilfrid Robarts Q.C. in Agatha Christie's play ''[[w:Witness for the Prosecution (play)\|Witness for the Prosecution]]'' in December 1956.

	Dawson claimed in his autobiography that he began entertaining as a pianist in a [[Paris]]ian brothel. Making a living as a pianist evolved into comedy when he got laughs by playing wrong notes and complaining to the audience. He made his television debut on the talent show ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)\|Opportunity Knocks]]'' in 1967 and worked as a comic on British television for the rest of his life.		Dawson claimed in his autobiography that he began entertaining as a pianist in a [[w:Paris\|Paris]]ian brothel. Making a living as a pianist evolved into comedy when he got laughs by playing wrong notes and complaining to the audience. He made his television debut on the talent show ''[[w:Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)\|Opportunity Knocks]]'' in 1967 and worked as a comic on British television for the rest of his life.

	Television series in which he appeared included the [[panel game]] ''[[Jokers Wild (TV series)\|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73) hosted by [[Barry Cryer]], ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76) and ''Dawson's Weekly'' (1975), all for [[Yorkshire Television]]. After joining the BBC, his TV projects were ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80), written by [[Andy Hamilton]] and Terry Ravenscroft, ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1978–87), written by Terry Ravenscroft, and the quiz show ''[[Blankety Blank]]'', which he presented from 1984 until its cancellation in 1990. Dawson starred in ''[[Listen to Les]]'' on [[BBC Radio 2]] in the 1970s and 1980s.		Television series in which he appeared included the [[w:panel game]] ''[[w:Jokers Wild (TV series)\|Jokers Wild]]'' (1969–73) hosted by [[Barry Cryer]], ''[[Sez Les]]'' (1969–76) and ''Dawson's Weekly'' (1975), all for [[w:Yorkshire Television\|Yorkshire Television]]. After joining the BBC, his TV projects were ''The Dawson Watch'' (1979–80), written by [[w:Andy Hamilton\|Andy Hamilton]] and Terry Ravenscroft, ''[[The Les Dawson Show]]'' (1978–87), written by Terry Ravenscroft, and the quiz show ''[[w;Blankety Blank\|w;Blankety Blank]]'', which he presented from 1984 until its cancellation in 1990. Dawson starred in ''[[Listen to Les]]'' on [[w;BBC Radio 2\|w;BBC Radio 2]] in the 1970s and 1980s.

	He made many appearances on BBC Television's variety show, ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)\|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1970s and 1980s. Dawson co-hosted [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex\|Prince Edward]]'s charity television special ''[[The Grand Knockout Tournament]]'' in 1987. When [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)\|Richard Wilson]] turned down the part of [[Victor Meldrew]] in the BBC sitcom ''[[One Foot ~~In The~~ Grave]]'', writer [[David Renwick]] considered Dawson for the role, but Wilson changed his mind before it was offered.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/26/victor-meldrew-role-les-dawson-one-foot-grave-in-grave-richard-wilson\|title=I don't believe it! Victor Meldrew role almost went to Les Dawson\|first=John\|last=Plunkett\|date=26 July 2016\|via=The Guardian}}</ref>		He made many appearances on BBC Television's variety show, ''[[w:The Good Old Days (UK TV series)\|The Good Old Days]]'' in the 1970s and 1980s. Dawson co-hosted [[w:Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex\|Prince Edward]]'s charity television special ''[[w:The Grand Knockout Tournament\|The Grand Knockout Tournament]]'' in 1987. When [[w:Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)\|Richard Wilson]] turned down the part of [[Victor Meldrew]] in the BBC sitcom ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]'', writer [[w:David Renwick\|David Renwick]] considered Dawson for the role, but Wilson changed his mind before it was offered.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/26/victor-meldrew-role-les-dawson-one-foot-grave-in-grave-richard-wilson\|title=I don't believe it! Victor Meldrew role almost went to Les Dawson\|first=John\|last=Plunkett\|date=26 July 2016\|via=The Guardian}}</ref>

	In 1991, Dawson starred in the BBC television production of ''Nona'', an adaptation of the 1977 play ''La Nona'' ("Grandma") by [[Roberto Cossa]] for the ''[[Performance (TV series)\|Performance]]'' series. Performing in drag, he was cast as a 100-year old, compulsive eater in a [[Buenos Aires]] household.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7b749ff0\|title = Nona (1991)}}</ref>		In 1991, Dawson starred in the BBC television production of ''Nona'', an adaptation of the 1977 play ''La Nona'' ("Grandma") by [[w:Roberto Cossa\|Roberto Cossa]] for the ''[[w:Performance (TV series)\|Performance]]'' series. Performing in drag, he was cast as a 100-year old, compulsive eater in a [[w:Buenos Aires\|Buenos Aires]] household.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7b749ff0\|title = Nona (1991)}}</ref>

	Dawson was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in December 1971 when [[Eamonn Andrews]] surprised him on ''Opportunity Knocks'',~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2021}}~~ and again 21 years later, in what would be one of his last television appearances, when he was surprised by [[Michael Aspel]] on stage at the [[Theatre Royal, Plymouth\|Theatre Royal]], [[Plymouth]], at the curtain call of the pantomime ''Dick Whittington'' in December 1992.~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2021}}~~ His final TV appearance was on the LWT series ''[[Surprise, Surprise (TV series)\|Surprise, Surprise]]'' hosted by [[Cilla Black]], in which he sang a comic rendition of "I Got You Babe" with a woman from the audience who wanted to sing with him. The episode was aired shortly after his death.		Dawson was the subject of ''[[w:This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in December 1971 when [[w:Eamonn Andrews\|Eamonn Andrews]] surprised him on ''Opportunity Knocks'', and again 21 years later, in what would be one of his last television appearances, when he was surprised by [[w:Michael Aspel\|Michael Aspel]] on stage at the [[w:Theatre Royal, Plymouth\|Theatre Royal]], [[w:Plymouth\|Plymouth]], at the curtain call of the pantomime ''Dick Whittington'' in December 1992. His final TV appearance was on the LWT series ''[[w:Surprise, Surprise (TV series)\|Surprise, Surprise]]'' hosted by [[w:Cilla Black\|Cilla Black]], in which he sang a comic rendition of "I Got You Babe" with a woman from the audience who wanted to sing with him. The episode was aired shortly after his death.

	Dawson was a heavy smoker and drinker. When not working he would often drink a bottle of whisky and smoke 50 cigarettes a day.<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/29/les-dawson-wife-daughter-joke-book \| location=London \| work=The Guardian \| first=Nick \|last=McGrath \| title=Looking after Les Dawson's legacy\| date=29 September 2012\|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Dawson was initiated into the famous show business fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as that order's "King Rat" in 1985.~~{{citation needed\|date=June 2017}}~~		Dawson was a heavy smoker and drinker. When not working he would often drink a bottle of whisky and smoke 50 cigarettes a day.<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/29/les-dawson-wife-daughter-joke-book \| location=London \| work=The Guardian \| first=Nick \|last=McGrath \| title=Looking after Les Dawson's legacy\| date=29 September 2012\|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Dawson was initiated into the famous show business fraternity, the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] and served as that order's "King Rat" in 1985.

	Dawson also wrote novels.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Andrew \|last=Dipper \|url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/ray-peacocks-tribute-to-les-dawson/ \|title=Ray Peacock's tribute to Les Dawson \|date=9 September 2013 \|work=Giggle Beats \|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> He told his second wife, Tracey, "Always remind them – I was a writer too."<ref>"The Unforgettable Les Dawson", ITV, 11 December 2000</ref>		Dawson also wrote novels.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Andrew \|last=Dipper \|url=http://www.gigglebeats.co.uk/2013/09/ray-peacocks-tribute-to-les-dawson/ \|title=Ray Peacock's tribute to Les Dawson \|date=9 September 2013 \|work=Giggle Beats \|access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> He told his second wife, Tracey, "Always remind them – I was a writer too."<ref>"The Unforgettable Les Dawson", ITV, 11 December 2000</ref>