The Many Faces of... Les Dawson (Season 1, Episode 5)
TV Episode | Documentary

The Many Faces of...

Les Dawson (Season 1, Episode 5)

TV Episode | Documentary

Les Dawson was one of Britain's all time great comedy talents, best known as a comedian but also a talented musician, writer and actor. This programme traces his career, with familiar favourite TV clips and some rare gems from the archives...See moreLes Dawson was one of Britain's all time great comedy talents, best known as a comedian but also a talented musician, writer and actor. This programme traces his career, with familiar favourite TV clips and some rare gems from the archives. Together with interviews from friends, relatives and colleagues, the programme unpicks the secrets of his enduring legacy nearly 20 years after his untimely death. After 'discovery' on the Opportunity Knocks talent show in the 60s, he quickly became a regular face on TV, hosting comedy-led variety shows like Sez Les and The Les Dawson Show. His trademarks were short, pithy jokes, usually targeting his wife or mother in law, long verbose monologues and, perhaps most famously, piano recitals that went hilariously off key. His reputation attracted guest appearances from some unexpected fans like John Cleese and Shirley Bassey, and he created an overweight dance troupe, The Roly Polys. The programme shows how his career unfolded and illustrates the different facets of his comedy genius. John Cleese remembers their unlikely friendship, modern comedy stars Robert Webb and Russell Kane talk about his inspiration and Dawson's widow Tracy recalls their marriage and his joy at being a father late in life. Written by Anonymous See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
27 cast members

Name	Known for
Les Dawson Self / Various Characters (archive footage) Self / Various Characters (archive footage) See fewer	Demob (1993)
Sally Phillips Self - Narrator (voice) Self - Narrator (voice) See fewer	Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)
Louis Barfe Self Self See fewer	Come on Down! The Game Show Story (2014)
Ian Boldsworth Self (as Ray Peacock) Self (as Ray Peacock) See fewer	No Heroics (2008)
John Cleese Self / Various Characters Self / Various Characters See fewer	A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Tracy Dawson Self Self See fewer	Heroes of Comedy (1995)
Norman Evans Over the Garden Wall (archive footage) Over the Garden Wall (archive footage) See fewer	Honeymoon Hotel (1946)
Russell Kane Self Self See fewer	Dear Pillow (2004)
Royston Mayoh Self - TV Producer Self - TV Producer See fewer	The Kenny Everett Video Cassette (1978)
Mo Moreland Self / Comedy Role Self / Comedy Role See fewer	Coronation Street (1960)
Terry Ravenscroft Self - Writer Self - Writer See fewer	Five Alive (1986)
Robert Webb Self Self See fewer	That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006)
Roy Barraclough Various Characters (archive footage) (uncredited) Various Characters (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Funland (2005)
Shirley Bassey Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Moonraker (1979)
Alan Bennett Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	The Lady in the Van (2015)
Cilla Black Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Last Night in Soho (2021)
Jim Broadbent Carmello (archive footage) (uncredited) Carmello (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Martin Clunes Dick Dobson (archive footage) (uncredited) Dick Dobson (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Peter Cook Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	The Princess Bride (1987)
Henry Cooper Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Royal Flash (1975)
Ken Dodd Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Hamlet (1996)
Hughie Green Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Midshipman Easy (1935)
David Jason Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Only Fools and Horses (1981)
Gorden Kaye Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	'Allo 'Allo! (1982)
Griff Rhys Jones Ian Deasey (archive footage) (uncredited) Ian Deasey (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Alas Smith & Jones (1984)
Anneka Rice Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Comic Relief: Behind the Nose (1992)
Roy Walker Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	The Jealous God (2005)