HE IS best remembered for his stellar, deadpan performances and is well known for his love of English literature.
Les Dawson was a portly comedian who thrilled audiences on stage and on TV – here’s what we know about him and his extraordinary life.
Who was Les Dawson?
Les Dawson was born in Collyhurst, Manchester on February 2, 1931.
Before he came to be famous he worked in the post department of the Manchester Co-op and even as a journalist for the Bury Times.
The comedy star was also a fan of poetry, and kept his poems hidden and secret throughout his life of fame. Being from a working-class background, it was not expected, certainly not in those days, that he would have literary ambitions.
Supposedly, according to his biography, Les played piano in a Parisian brothel – this was before his television debut on Opportunity Knocks in 1967 which helped launch his career.
On Opportunity Knocks, Les and his partner-in-crime, Roy Barrablough, played elderly women who were essentially authentic characters of the time but with extra pantomime features.
In the 1970s and 80s, Les hosted Listen to Les on BBC Radio 2, as well as a number of TV shows like Sez Les, The Dawson Watch and The Les Dawson Show.
Les’ last TV appearance was on Surprise Surprise, hosted by Cilla Black.
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Who was his wife and how many children did Les have?
Les was married twice throughout his life.
His first wife, Margaret Dawson, was together with Les from 1960 until the day she died on 15 April 1986 from cancer.
They had three children together, Julie, Pamela and Stuart.
Three years later he married his second wife, Tracy, with whom Les was together with until his death.
They had one child together, Charlotte, who was born on October 3, 1992.
How did Les Dawson Die?
Les Dawson died on June 10, 1993.
He was attending a hospital in Manchester for a routine medical check-up with his wife, Tracy.
While he was awaiting the results he sadly passed away after suffering a major heart-attack.