Sez Les
| Sez Les | |
|---|---|
| Format | Sketch show |
| Starring |
Les Dawson Roy Barraclough John Cleese |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 11 |
| No. of episodes | 68 |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Yorkshire Television |
| Original run |
30 April 1969 – 30 November 1976 |
Sez Les was a British comedy sketch show that starred Les Dawson. It was produced by Yorkshire Television and aired on ITV from 1969 to 1976. The show also starred Roy Barraclough from series Four - who would go on to become Dawson's most recognisable sidekick. The two most notably appeared together in drag as characters Cissie and Ada. John Cleese, who quit the Monty Python team, also appeared, from 1974, in two complete series. Other cast members included Norman Chappell, Brian Glover, Brian Murphy and Kathy Staff. Music was provided by Syd Lawrence and his orchestra.
Cast
- Les Dawson
Roy Barraclough - (from series 4)
John Cleese - (from series 8)
Norman Chappel - (Series 11)
Brian Glover - (Series 5 & 6)
Brian Murphy - (Series 1-2)
Kathy Staff - (Series 11)
Episode Listing
Series 1 (1969)
All are believed in existence; except the first ever episode, which is missing and believed wiped.
Series 2 (1969)
All are missing, and are believed to be wiped.
Series 3 (1971)
Series 4 (1972)
Series 5 (1972)
Series 6 (1973)
Series 7 (1973)
Christmas Special (1973)
Series 8 (1974)
Series 9 (1974)
New Year Special (1976)
Series 10 (1976)
Series 11 (1976)
DVD releases
The first two series of Sez Les (both transmitted in 1969) no longer exist and are currently missing from Yorkshire Television's TV archives, the master tapes having been re-used, lost or taped-over after first (and original) broadcast of transmission at the time.
A tape box labelled as containing a series 1 show exists, but the contents are a recording of a different programme. Archivists hope that the recording is merely misfiled rather than lost.
- Sez Les - Vol 1 containing the complete third and fourth series was released in October 2008.
- Sez Les - Vol 2 containing the complete fifth and sixth series followed on 25 May 2009.
- Sez Les - Vol 3 containing the complete seventh and eighth series including the 1973 Christmas special has been released on 8 February 2010.
- Sez Les - Vol 4 containing the complete ninth tenth and eleventh (and final) series including the 1976 New Year special, having been released on 7 May 2012.
A boxset consisting of all 4 volumes 1-4 is likely to be released in either 2013 or 2014.
Les Dawson Show
In early 1979 Les moved to the BBC to do "The Les Dawson Show" which run until 1989, all series had 6 Episodes each.
- Series 1: 21 January - 1 April 1979
- Series 2: 30/01 - 1982/03/05
- Series 3: 15/01 - 1983/02/19;
- Series 4: 21/01 - 1984/02/25
- Series 5: 19/10 - 1989/11/23.
Plus 2 specials 1981/05/25; 1987/12/28 and a skit for The FUNNY SIDE OF CHRISTMAS (tx 1982/12/27).
External links
References
Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy - Mark Lewisohn. BBC Worldwide Publications 2003.