I can understand Les. He was an intellectual trapped in a working class society. I was there too. Being interested in electrical engineering, and aspiring up the academic ranks beyond trade qualifications was considered a total anathema to my father. A complete and utter waste he called it, and going against the principles of my working class roots. Trying to be something you are not, and not accepting the way things are. Trying to better yourself in a society where you are meant to remain working class, are working class, and shall always remain so whatever you do to change it. Trying to be one of the bosses. I remember it like Les probably did too. Nobody could understand why we wanted to progress and make our dreams come true. Nobody understood why, but shunned us for our desires and dreams, so we became introverted and secretive about our passions. Watching Monty Pythons Flying Circus was considered too highbrow, comedy not made for the working class but for the intellectuals. My father would immediately turn it off with a, 'You're not watching that. That kind of humor is not for the likes of us. We're working class.' That was almost like a Monty Python sketch in itself. So I understand Les. I understand the slighting, the disappointments, the sadness, and the hiding away of his cherished true ideals and aspirations to avoid being ostracised by his peers. How isolated Les must have felt at times, lonely and at his wits end, and, after such great promise of a chance to make it, the Max Wall fiasco, total rock bottom, a feeling of total abject failure. And a secret diary? Of course. All your mates would consider you a cissy if you showed even the slightest interest in something that they did not consider manly and fit for a working class lad, like writing. So many hardships and disappointments Les, from the loss of time with your family, even to the point of despair poor man. But what a good lad you turned out to be. Like me, you started from nothing, from rock bottom, but you worked hard and kept with it. You were determined to get out of that mire, to become a better person, to strive for your dream, for something better in life. It was damn hard, sometimes you wondered if anything would ever come of it, and the day to day insecurities and worries about continued work, failure, and simple survival took their toll. But with the help of Meg you kept going Les, you never gave up, and like me too, you won. Even Meg would sit Les on the sofa they had in the old days, and told him to remember what that had felt like when he started to get above himself. She would ground him. Good lass Meg, and good for you Les Dawson. Thank you Meg so much for keeping Les on track and being his rock to cling to in times of despair. I feel that without that support Les might have ended it all. All that effort, all that suffering and hard graft was not for nothing after all, and Les proved it. Les was the best. An icon, a legend, and along with Ken Dodd, and a few others, one of the truly best stand up and situational comedians of a generation. Doddy had his own style, but nobody has come even near to Les's dead pan style of stand up comedy. And nobody means nobody, even to this very day. Les was simply brilliant, a truly gifted and talented writer, musician, comedian, and intellectual who wrote all his own material. The death of his wife Meg from cancer must have been such an enormous shattering blow for him, but Les never let it break out into his work. Poor bloke, the ups and downs of his life, the strain of such a heavy work load as he pushed himself to keep in work and not take things steady, and the effects of booze, smoking, and over indulgence must have affected his life enormously. I am just glad that Les found happiness in his life later after the loss of Meg, and that his end was swift and not protracted with pain and more suffering. God knows how much Les had suffered in his life already. Unbeknown to most, and despite being an instantly recognisable star, Les was always totally approachable. Just a normal Northern bloke, as Ken Dodd described him. On some occasions he could be found on pier promenades just taking time out from his performances, and would chat with anyone who approached him. Even at Batley Variety Club he could be found at the bar open to discussion with anyone. He never forgot his roots. He was the peoples comedian. Thank goodness that I saw him in my lifetime. There will never be another like him. RIP Les Dawson. God bless you Les, Meg, and Roy too. The angels are now constantly amused.
What a truly lovely epitaph. So carefully constructed with a true level of understanding that can only come from the experiences of this hard knock life. Lovely indeed MrMoggyman. God bless you.
Totally agree mate. I'm a working class lad from Dublin. Far and away the most intelligent person I have ever met ( I was at uni, so I encountered a few bright ones) is my mate George. He left school at 12, but that makes no difference to his intellectual confidence and curiosity. And he's funny as fuck too, just like Les.
This has to be one of the best tributes to Les i've seen. Les was a comedy favourite/hero of mine from being a boy in the 1970s. His radio show was equally as funny as the TV shows with many characters that never or hardly ever made a television appearance such as Wotan Man Of Steel, boxer Sugar Albert Ackroyd, Love On The Dole which was updated to The Sophisticates and the inept bank robber with the speech impediment. Many fond memories of a truly funny man. Thanks for the years of laughter and hilarity Les.
When the entry that ends come fill my brimming tankard of failure is read Out I was looking at the other entries in Les Dawson's diary. The one on the right begins at 25 my life is over. I hope he wasn't suicidal . My heart goes out to him .
The difference between Les Dawson and Max Wall was Max Wall had an affair . Both Les Dawson and Tracy were single when they met . Les through the sad death of his wife . By the way i love both older and newer comedians . Theres good stuff with both and shit with both .
@@alanberkeley7282 I listened again but it is a bit faint on my PC Alan. Then I listened again and I am pretty sure it is part of Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond.' ruclips.net/video/cWGE9Gi0bB0/видео.html The album was called 'Wish You Were Here'
The likes of Stephen Fry would swan straight into the BBC thanks to their Oxbridge contacts. The comedy of these people may sometimes be clever but it's joyless.
![TRASH or PASS! Eminem ( Houdini ) [REACTION!!!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cB1WrZcMwMc/mqdefault.jpg)
I adored Les Dawson. Brilliant physical comic. Simply very, very funny.
I can understand Les. He was an intellectual trapped in a working class society. I was there too. Being interested in electrical engineering, and aspiring up the academic ranks beyond trade qualifications was considered a total anathema to my father. A complete and utter waste he called it, and going against the principles of my working class roots. Trying to be something you are not, and not accepting the way things are. Trying to better yourself in a society where you are meant to remain working class, are working class, and shall always remain so whatever you do to change it. Trying to be one of the bosses. I remember it like Les probably did too. Nobody could understand why we wanted to progress and make our dreams come true. Nobody understood why, but shunned us for our desires and dreams, so we became introverted and secretive about our passions. Watching Monty Pythons Flying Circus was considered too highbrow, comedy not made for the working class but for the intellectuals. My father would immediately turn it off with a, 'You're not watching that. That kind of humor is not for the likes of us. We're working class.' That was almost like a Monty Python sketch in itself. So I understand Les. I understand the slighting, the disappointments, the sadness, and the hiding away of his cherished true ideals and aspirations to avoid being ostracised by his peers. How isolated Les must have felt at times, lonely and at his wits end, and, after such great promise of a chance to make it, the Max Wall fiasco, total rock bottom, a feeling of total abject failure. And a secret diary? Of course. All your mates would consider you a cissy if you showed even the slightest interest in something that they did not consider manly and fit for a working class lad, like writing. So many hardships and disappointments Les, from the loss of time with your family, even to the point of despair poor man. But what a good lad you turned out to be. Like me, you started from nothing, from rock bottom, but you worked hard and kept with it. You were determined to get out of that mire, to become a better person, to strive for your dream, for something better in life. It was damn hard, sometimes you wondered if anything would ever come of it, and the day to day insecurities and worries about continued work, failure, and simple survival took their toll. But with the help of Meg you kept going Les, you never gave up, and like me too, you won. Even Meg would sit Les on the sofa they had in the old days, and told him to remember what that had felt like when he started to get above himself. She would ground him. Good lass Meg, and good for you Les Dawson. Thank you Meg so much for keeping Les on track and being his rock to cling to in times of despair. I feel that without that support Les might have ended it all. All that effort, all that suffering and hard graft was not for nothing after all, and Les proved it. Les was the best. An icon, a legend, and along with Ken Dodd, and a few others, one of the truly best stand up and situational comedians of a generation. Doddy had his own style, but nobody has come even near to Les's dead pan style of stand up comedy. And nobody means nobody, even to this very day. Les was simply brilliant, a truly gifted and talented writer, musician, comedian, and intellectual who wrote all his own material. The death of his wife Meg from cancer must have been such an enormous shattering blow for him, but Les never let it break out into his work. Poor bloke, the ups and downs of his life, the strain of such a heavy work load as he pushed himself to keep in work and not take things steady, and the effects of booze, smoking, and over indulgence must have affected his life enormously. I am just glad that Les found happiness in his life later after the loss of Meg, and that his end was swift and not protracted with pain and more suffering. God knows how much Les had suffered in his life already. Unbeknown to most, and despite being an instantly recognisable star, Les was always totally approachable. Just a normal Northern bloke, as Ken Dodd described him. On some occasions he could be found on pier promenades just taking time out from his performances, and would chat with anyone who approached him. Even at Batley Variety Club he could be found at the bar open to discussion with anyone. He never forgot his roots. He was the peoples comedian. Thank goodness that I saw him in my lifetime. There will never be another like him. RIP Les Dawson. God bless you Les, Meg, and Roy too. The angels are now constantly amused.
What a truly lovely epitaph. So carefully constructed with a true level of understanding that can only come from the experiences of this hard knock life. Lovely indeed MrMoggyman. God bless you.
Fantastic thanks for your thoughts
Bright, working class lad. Always the most interesting.
Totally agree mate. I'm a working class lad from Dublin. Far and away the most intelligent person I have ever met ( I was at uni, so I encountered a few bright ones) is my mate George. He left school at 12, but that makes no difference to his intellectual confidence and curiosity. And he's funny as fuck too, just like Les.
Absolutely
A genius, Einstein of comedy.
Much missed.
This has to be one of the best tributes to Les i've seen. Les was a comedy favourite/hero of mine from being a boy in the 1970s. His radio show was equally as funny as the TV shows with many characters that never or hardly ever made a television appearance such as Wotan Man Of Steel, boxer Sugar Albert Ackroyd, Love On The Dole which was updated to The Sophisticates and the inept bank robber with the speech impediment. Many fond memories of a truly funny man. Thanks for the years of laughter and hilarity Les.
When the entry that ends come fill my brimming tankard of failure is read
Out I was looking at the other entries in Les Dawson's diary. The one on the right begins at 25 my life is over. I hope he wasn't suicidal . My heart goes out to him .
I like him much!
Unique
The difference between Les Dawson and Max Wall was Max Wall had an affair . Both Les Dawson and Tracy were single when they met . Les through the sad death of his wife .
By the way i love both older and newer comedians . Theres good stuff with both and shit with both .
So so so funny
Anywhere the diaries can be read ?? And do they include the night at the Sunderland theatre?
😊
lovely funny man xx
A bottle of whiskey had no effect on him. That is so very worrying and unhealthy.
It's not easy to play off key. Keep together now!
29 June 1993
Is it just me having problems with this video with breaks and blanc bits?
What is the tune 48-49 minutes.
'Feelings' is the title. Written by Morris Albert.
@@doug1570 No not when he sang out of tune deliberately. The instrumental. 48 minutes onwards
@@alanberkeley7282 I listened again but it is a bit faint on my PC Alan. Then I listened again and I am pretty sure it is part of Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond.' ruclips.net/video/cWGE9Gi0bB0/видео.html The album was called 'Wish You Were Here'
The likes of Stephen Fry would swan straight into the BBC thanks to their Oxbridge contacts. The comedy of these people may sometimes be clever but it's joyless.
..
Buying a lot of shit, thats what they do. I live in a very good area, thy drop that in front of their houses.