User Reviews

After coming to prominence on 'Opportunity Knocks' in the late '60's, Les Dawson was given his own show by Yorkshire Television, which combined sketches, stand-up and music and ran well into the '70's. Given that Les' comic persona was that of a misanthrope, it seemed strange to see him in a show with dancing girls, glitzy sets, and The Syd Lawrence Orchestra.

'Sez Les' was initially biased towards international guest stars such as Trini Lopez, with as many as three musical acts on each show. But, as time went on, the producers gave Les more and more to do. Things perked up considerably with the arrival of Roy Barraclough, who would eventually develop with Les the talkative housewives Cissy and Ada.

John Cleese, fresh from 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', became a regular for a time, and he and Les made a surprisingly effective comedy team. One of their best sketches was a surreal item set in an office where the staff vie for promotion by constantly trying to assassinate one another. It wouldn't have seemed out of place in 'Python'. Then there was 'Superflop', an incompetent superhero who later became the subject of a comic strip in 'Look-In'. Good fun.

EdinaJambo, perhaps you would have found Les funnier if he had done jokes about the Holocaust, like modern comics sadly do.

Les Dawson was a comedy genius. I'm baffled as why some people do not find him funny. He was simply brilliant. The mother in law jokes were only a small part of his act. He could entertain audiences without resorting to foul language, which sadly seems to be the norm today. He was at his best when he teamed up with Roy Barraclough and together they recreated Norman Evans famous' Over The Garden Wall' routine. John Cleese ( fresh from 'Monty Python' ) also appeared in some episodes as a straight man. One of Les' most remembered characters was 'Superflop', a spoof of 'Superman'. David Nobbs ( of 'Reginald Perrin' fame wrote many of the sketches. So, yes, I loved 'Sez Les' and don't care its dated or not. Les was still a huge star when he died at the start of the Nineties.

Les Dawson is a great comedian but this long running Thames sketch show does not rank among his best in my opinion, despite it being what put him on the comedy map, as well as starting his memorable double act with Roy Barraclough as gossipy harridans Cissy and Ada.

Each show would kick off with Dawson's orchestra doing their piece, before Les moved on to sketches, songs and monologues. The sketches were probably the best part of the show, though overall they still were not much cop, such as one featuring Les as a cack-handed dentist. John Cleese appeared now and again as Les' sidekick.

'Sez Les' ended in 1976. Thankfully, Les moved onto more superior shows such as 'The Dawson Watch'.