Les Dawson's: Secret Notebooks

'Probably one of the funniest books of the year, it's a brilliant tribute to a comedy legend' Sunday Sport

The voice of the great Les Dawson, it has to be. Dawson, the comedian's comedian, a man with a massive following in his lifetime and now a real cult hero. Who can forget the out-of tune piano playing, the mother in- law jokes, the fast-fire gags and routines that shot from his mouth with apparent ease? Here now, selected and introduced by his widow Tracy, is a treasure-trove of unseen and unpublished Les Dawson material, culled from his notebooks and diaries. Clearly, for Les it was never easy or effortless, and just how hard he worked on, and honed, his material is clear from the boxes of hand-written gags and routines he left behind, each page funnier and more outrageous than the next. Heading after heading, is followed by pages of one-liners: I wouldn't Say she was a Fast Eater But . . . I wouldn't Say he was Mean, But . ..

I Wouldn't Say She Was Thin.But . . . And there are the Blankety.Blank routines ('Some quiz shows.come, some quiz shows go . . . thisone is still waiting for a lift.') as wellas the inventive letters, the radio and.television routines, the silly drawings,and crazy, off-the-wall stories. On top,of all this, there are Les's often,poignant diaries, from the early days,when he was a Hoover salesman, struggling to make it on stage . . . and,on A rich and fabulous feast indeed, and one that will be devoured by Les Dawson's countless fans.

Born in Collyhurst, Manchester in 1934, Les Dawson was one of Britain's finest and best-loved comedians. He toured the clubs and pubs for many years, before he was 'discovered' on Hughie Green's TV show, Opportunity Knocks in 1967, becoming a household name. Les was also a prolific writer with thirteen books to his credit. He married Tracy in 1989, and their daughter Charlotte was born three years later. Les died suddenly of a heart attack at their home in Lytham St Annes in 1993.