"Dawson's Weekly" Strangers in the Night (1975)

TV Series:

"Dawson's Weekly" (1975)

Original Air Date:

29 July 1975 (Season 1, Episode 7)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Cast

Les Dawson	...	Les
Roy Barraclough	...	Roy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sue Lloyd	...	Girl
Kenny Lynch	...	Attendant
Edward Sinclair	...	Steward

Directed by
Vernon Lawrence

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ray Galton
Alan Simpson

Produced by
Vernon Lawrence	....	producer

"Which way is this train going?"

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The final episode of 'Dawsons Weekly' sees Les boarding a sleeper train to Scotland, equipped with skis. He asks the attendant ( Kenny Lynch ) where he can find 'crumpet'. Alone in the dining car, he is approached by a mysterious, beautiful woman ( Sue Lloyd ) who is due to be married the next day and, not to put too fine a point on it, offers him a good time in bed.

Les thinks his birthday has come early. But there's a problem - she is travelling with an elderly companion. She eventually knocks out her out with a sleeping draught.

Back in his cabin, Les prepares for the night of his life. Stripping to his long johns, he puts on his leather jacket. Answering a knock on the door, he is horrified to find not the girl but a man ( Roy Barraclough ) who got on at Darlington, and wishes to share the cabin. The man is openly gay, and clearly attracted to Les...

The final episode of 'Dawsons Weekly' is a little belter; the prospect of sex gives Les full opportunity to indulge in his penchant for gurning, which he employed when in his 'Cosmo Smallpiece' persona. Interestingly, he never thinks to ask the name of the girl he intends to sleep with. Clearly no gentleman!

Edward Sinclair, who plays 'The Steward' is, of course, immortalized in comedy history as 'The Verger' from 'Dad's Army', while Kenny Lynch, a.k.a. 'The Attendent', popped up a lot on Jimmy Tarbuck's shows.

Though a ratings success, the show was savaged by the critics to such an extent Yorkshire Television decided not to recommission it ( critics had a lot more influence in those days ). One wonders if the poor reviews were motivated solely by anger on the part on those still grieving for Tony Hancock. While no classic, I found myself laughing out loud far more than I have done with some of Les' other stuff, such as 'The Dawson Watch'.

The scene where Les meets Roy is reminiscent of 'The Alpine Holiday' from 'Hancock's Half-Hour' in which Tony checks into a hotel and finds himself lumbered with Kenneth Williams' 'Snide'.

Les returned to 'Sez Les', and later moved to the B.B.C. where he eventually replaced Terry Wogan as host of 'Blankety Blank'.

Funniest moment - Roy telling Les he has traced back his ancestry and discovered he has Scottish roots. "I'm a Gordon!". Les sneers: "One of the gay ones, no doubt!".