Les Dawson was an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer and musician from Manchester. He found fame as a contestant on talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1967, and quickly became a top-name star, with multiple sketch, stand-up and sitcom series of his own. Acclaimed for his skill and breadth of knowledge across a range of subjects and disciplines, he died of sudden heart attack whilst at his local hospital, waiting for results from a routine check-up.