TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 - 1999

Despite the history books having Les Dawson 'discovered' on Opportunity Knocks in May 1967 he had already made appearances on ABC's Comedy Bandbox four years before his talent show wins. His sheer comic invention, the hangdog expression, the mother-in-law jokes, the bad piano playing and the verbose approach to joke-telling made him probably the most noticeable comedian of his generation.

And despite being from the Manchester side of the Pennines it was Yorkshire TV in Leeds that gave him his first series. The series was directed by David Mallet, recently relocated from America where he had worked on Jack Good's Shindig for several years. The first series beginning spring 1969 welcomed Roy Orbison as the first guest, followed by Georgie Fame, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, The Morgan-James Duo, Dakota Staton, Françoise Hardy among others. However the regulars would be The Syd Lawrence Orchestra who Dawson had sponsored on Opportunity Knocks. Together with vocal group The Skylarks they would appear on most of Dawsons' shows during his stay at Yorkshire TV, backing many of the artists and making a much better job of it than the Top Of The Pops orchestra ever did. In one show Lawrence was presented with a gold album by the host. Later shows featured Peter Noone, Johnny Nash, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Sandie Shaw, Olivia Newton-John, Linda Lewis, Labi Siffre, Neil Sedaka, The Three Degrees, Alvin Stardust etc.

The first two series were wiped but Network DVD have the remaining shows on DVD.

SEZ LES

Yorkshire

30th April 1969 – 30th November 1976