Les Dawson. Copyright: ITV Studios
Les Dawson Forever

Les Dawson Forever

  • TV documentary
  • ITV3
  • 2016
  • 2 episodes (1 series)

A two-part documentary about stand-up comic Les Dawson. Also features Roy Barraclough, Ted Robbins, Johnny Vegas, Barry Cryer and Martin Clunes

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 1

Charlotte Dawson learns about the early part of her father's career, whilst Roy Barraclough reminisces about working with Les Dawson and the creation of Cissie and Ada. Barry Cyer meets former colleagues from sketch show Sez Les.

Preview clips

Further details

Les's youngest daughter, Charlotte Dawson, who was only 18 months old when her dad passed away in 1993, meets up with Opportunity Knocks director Royston Mayoh to hear how an audition for the talent contest would change her father's life forever.

Charlotte listens to a recently discovered tape recording of her father taken from The Blackpool Show in 1967 and believed to be the oldest surviving audio of his act.

The programme also features Les's comedy partner Roy Barraclough reminiscing about how the pair's famous characters Cissie and Ada came to life after a producer overheard them mucking about on the studio floor between takes in recording. Although Les was keen to try out the characters on television, Roy was not so sure, saying "I don't think the public are ready to watch two fat men in frocks"!

Roy confides how he and Les would try their utmost to make each other laugh during the Cissie and Ada sketches. Les would often throw in ad-libbed funny names while Roy would try and crack up his comedy partner with imaginatively named confectionery.

Meanwhile comedian and writer Barry Cryer returns to Yorkshire Television, the home of filming for Sez Les - Les Dawson's first TV series - where he reunites with Don Clayton and John Heaton, who worked alongside Les on the studio floor. The memories from over 40 years ago come flooding back as the former team look through personal memorabilia that Les kept from his time fronting the show.

The show also pays homage to a familiar and well-loved part of Les's routine - off-key piano playing. Rick Wakeman, a friend of Les, reveals the complexities of playing the piano off-key for laughs and demonstrates why Les was such a genius.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 21st December 2016
Time
9pm
Channel
ITV3
Length
60 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Wednesday 28th December 2016 7:55pm ITV3
Saturday 1st April 2017 11:00pm ITV3
Sunday 2nd April 2017 10:00pm ITV3
Monday 19th June 2017 8:00pm ITV3
Sunday 26th November 2017 4:10pm ITV1
Wednesday 14th February 2018 8:00pm ITV3
Sunday 18th February 2018 1:35pm ITV3
Sunday 3rd June 2018 10:20pm ITV1
Sunday 2nd September 2018 9:00pm ITV3
Sunday 9th December 2018 10:55pm ITV1
Friday 14th June 2019 8:30pm ITV3
Thursday 20th June 2019 12:05am ITV3
Friday 27th December 2019 8:00pm ITV3
Sunday 19th April 2020 8:00pm ITV3
Monday 1st June 2020 10:45pm ITV1
Friday 1st January 2021 6:00pm ITV3
Monday 4th January 2021 12:00am ITV3

Cast & crew

Cast
Roy Barraclough Self
Ted Robbins Self
Johnny Vegas Self
Barry Cryer Self
Les Dawson Self (Archive Material)
Martin Clunes Narrator
Guest cast
Johnny Ball Self
Royston Mayoh Self
Charlotte Dawson Self
Tracy Dawson Self
Rick Wakeman Self
David Mallett Self
Don Clayton Self
John Heaton Self
Andy Hamilton Self
Ken Dodd Self
Peter Pilbeam Self
Production team
Ruth Binsley Director
Patrick Talbot Director
Ruth Binsley Producer
Patrick Talbot Producer
Mark Robinson Executive Producer
Ian Brown Editor
Dave Woodyer Editor

Video

Trailer

Trailer for Les Dawson Forever.

Featuring: Roy Barraclough, Ted Robbins, Johnny Vegas, Barry Cryer & Les Dawson.

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