Les Dawson wasn’t like other comedians. More accurately, he was an artist.
A secret poet, voracious reader, distinguished writer, adroit musician, versatile actor and charming presenter, Dawson’s talents ran the entire creative gamut.
He just happened to be riotously funny as well.
2 February marks the birthday of one of the greatest performers that Britain has ever seen: A dexterous, sharp-witted national treasure who was taken from us too soon.
Born in Collyhurst in 1931, Dawson first caught the public eye during an appearance on Opportunity Knocks in the 1960s, quickly turning into one of the country’s most popular stage personas.
Introducing regional northern humour to the wider masses, Dawson would make the kind of jokes most people could relate to – favouring a gruff, deadpan delivery and purposely playing the wrong notes on the piano during performances, grumbling about his mistakes to the chuckling crowd.
Impeccable comic timing aside, Dawson also had a knack for slapstick – boasting a bizarre ability to pull mangled faces that sent audiences into fits of giggles (an old injury meant he could fold his jaw right up over his lip).
He created characters for his comic routines, too – teaming up with fellow comic Roy Barraclough to portray two gossipy millworkers Cissie Braithwaite and Ada Shufflebotham.
For the more risque subjects, the duo would mouth any rude words to one another – much in the same way that Lancashire women of old used to do amid the racket of the northern mills.
Les Dawson was born in Collyhurst on 2 February 1931 / Credit: BBC
By the sixties, Dawson had become one of the most prevalent faces in British comedy. But he took the scenic route to reach the stage.
In his youth, he had dreams of becoming a novelist – and temporarily swapped his humble surroundings of Collyhurst to mingle with the art crowd in the illustrious French capital .
This early part of his life was portrayed in an episode of Sky Art series Urban Myths in 2020 – revealing how Dawson was ultimately waylaid during his time in Paris and found himself plonked at the seat of a piano in a local brothel.
It was here, seemingly, that Dawson found he could make punters laugh – deliberately striking incorrect keys and throwing some jokes in for good measure.
After finding his feet on the comedy circuit, Dawson would go on to enjoy long television career that included credits for Fast Friends, Blankety Blank, Sez Les and Dawson’s Weekly.
He married twice and had four children – including Charlotte who went on to become a reality TV star.
Dawson developed his first set of serious health problems in the eighties, and after awaiting medical results at Whalley Range Hospital in 1993, the comedian suddenly collapsed and died of a heart attack.
He was 62.
In 2008, a statue of Dawson was placed in the gardens by St Anne’s-on-Sea pier in Lancashire – where he had lived for several years.
The statue of comedian Les Dawson / Image: Steve Daniels – Geograph
Wherever he went, whoever he played to, he’d often get the whole room laughing.
Featured Image – BBC
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Warrington-born Adolescence star Owen Cooper becomes youngest ever male Emmy winner
Emily Sergeant
Owen Cooper has made history.
The Warrington-born actor who burst onto the scene as a newcomer in the Netflix smash-hit drama series Adolescence, starring alongside other big names like Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Ashley Walters, has become the youngest winner ever in any male acting category at last nights Emmy Awards 2025.
He took home the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series.
Youngest Emmy winner ever in any male acting category.
At just 15 years old, Cooper beat out his fellow co-star Ashley Walters for the award, as well as other renowned actors like Javier Bardem, Peter Sarsgaard, and Rob Delaney.
Adolescence, if you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates – with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
The truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Adolescence gained universal critical acclaim when it debuted on Netflix earlier this year / Credit: Netflix
Cooper was a complete screen newcomer starring as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, and the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside because of it.
Taking to the stage to accept his award last night, Cooper – who began taking weekly acting lessons with The Drama Mob here in Manchester – said: “[The win] is just so surreal. Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to be even in the United States, never mind [at The Emmys].
“So I think tonight proves that if you listen and you focus and you step out your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life.”
Elsewhere on the night, Adolescence cleaned up as a whole.
Co-creator and star of the show, Stephen Graham, took home the Best Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series award, as well as a Writing award alongside co-writer Jack Thorne, while Erin Doherty claimed the Best Supporting Actress accolade in the same category, and director Philip Barantini won the Best Director award.
Featured Image – Television Academy / Emmys (via YouTube)
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Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Danny Jones
Everton FC are reportedly already considering signing Jack Grealish on a permanent deal after an impressive start to his spell on loan from Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa talisman has struggled to remain in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2021, but since arriving on Merseyside, he’s already been a difference-maker in every match for the Toffees thus far.
Grealish has not only registered four assists in just two starts for Everton but also won the very first player of the month award in the Premier League this season for his contributions.
Safe to say he’s fast made a big impact over in Liverpool – hence why it is now thought that manager David Moyes wants to make his transfer permanent.
Becoming just the 10th Toffee to ever win the accolade, the Birmingham-born creator is now thought to be the primary transfer target, despite the summer window having only recently closed.
He writes that despite the deal between Everton and Man City already including a £50 million option to buy next summer, that number is “not fixed and is more a consequence of accounting than a set price.”
The England international still has two years on his contract in the blue half of Manchester, but the previous valuation (which is half the amount City paid for him in a then record fee for a British player), so it is believed that he could be signed for an even better cut-price offer as his deal runs down.
Put it this way, it looks like the supporters would do just about anything to keep him at the Hill Dickinson.
Jack Grealish giving his shirt to an Everton fan after their brilliant win away at Wolves today.
Bascombe goes on to explain, however, that his salary considerations could be a significant obstacle. Grealish is estimated to be earning approximately £12m a year, which is almost certainly too rich for Everton’s blood.
Taking that into account, it’d be a case of whether or not the Brummy forward would be willing to accept a much lower wage to depart the Etihad Stadium for Everton long-term; alternatively, waiting for him to become a free agent in a few transfer windows’ time would also be an option.
What about you, Blues: would you like to see Jack Grealish stay and fight for his place under Guardiola, or would you understand/support him making his Everton permanent?
Interestingly, there could be yet more shuffling of the pack in the middle of the park for Pep, as a forgotten man is apparently going to be given another chance to revive his City career…
The Manc -
2nd February 2023 
