The Dawson Watch (1979–1980) User Reviews

''Dawson is watching!''

[Rabical-91 · 8/10 · 16 May 2023]

After 'The Les Dawson Show' flopped, Dawson did an interesting, if patchy, series for the BBC yet again entitled 'The Dawson Watch', an investigative themed comedy show in which Dawson each week from scientific headquarters would offer nuggets of advice and news about the goings on in the world, with sketches linked to each item.

Les for the most part was in fine form, though a bit repetitive in some editions ( I lost count of the amount of times he told this joke: ''I got sent a note that brought tears to my eyes, it was written on an onion!'' ). Appearing from time to time as support were Robin Parkinson, Jacqueline Clarke, Vikki Michelle, Tony Caunter and Ian Lindsay among many others. Sketches were written by Les in collaboration with Terry Ravenscroft and Andy Hamilton.

'The Dawson Watch' was popular enough to run for three series until it came to an end in 1980. Two years later, 'The Les Dawson Show' was revived and proved successful enough to run to a further four series.

Les investigates Broken Britain

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 10 October 2009]

Following years as a struggling nightclub comic, Les Dawson hit the jackpot in 1968 when he won the I.T.V. talent show 'Opportunity Knocks!'. He became a regular on the B.B.C.'s 'Lulu' series, before landing his own show for Yorkshire Television - 'Sez Les'. After it ended in 1976, Les then returned to the B.B.C., who, somewhat bizarrely, re-teamed him with Lulu for the inaptly-named 'The Les Dawson Show'.

In 1979, he headlined 'The Dawson Watch' which took its title from the B.B.C. sci-fi drama 'Doomwatch' ( starring John Paul, Simon Oates and Robert Powell ) and concerned the misuse of science. Les' version, however, was a spoof investigative show which opened each week with him announcing in mock-serious tones that 'they' were out there, an army of meddling bureaucrats - 'Little Brothers' if you like - out to make life problematic for the common man. "You can't tell the Government to go to hell!", stated Les, "They're making it for us!". The titles showed Les snapping away with a Minox camera whilst in various guises - milkman, sewer maintenance man, even a baby in a pram.

His monologues were delivered from a futuristic control centre similar to S.H.A.D.O. H.Q. from Gerry Anderson's 'U.F.O.'. Beautiful girls and handsome men floated about, programming computers and so on, while glum Les chatted about his awful home life, usually revolving around his wife and her domineering mother. From time to time the camera cut to their laughing faces.

'Watch' owed a debt to 'Scott On...', a sketch show from the early '70's starring Terry Scott and June Whitfield, as well as 'The Frost Report'. Each edition focused on a particular topic, such as 'Crime', 'Education', 'Entertainment', and 'The Media'. The idea was that Les' encounters with awkward shop keepers, over-efficient police men, traffic wardens etc. were supposed to illustrate the decline of Britain. It was hardly satire, of course, some of the sketches would not have looked out of place in 'Sez Les'. Being a Dawson show it would not have been complete without an appearance from 'Ada Shufflebottom' and her best pal 'Cissie', played by Roy Barraclough.

Three seasons were made in all. Les' next show would see him revert to the 'The Les Dawson Show' format - sketches, monologues, guest stars ( who can forget 'The Roly-Polys'! ). But 'The Dawson Watch' made a nice change for him, it was fun seeing Les attempting to scare viewers by warning of terrifying government conspiracies. Was David Cameron a fan by any chance?

Dire

[stellastreet · 4/10 · 22 December 2019]

My opinion of Les Dawson has gone down since watching all of The Dawson Watch.

Series 1 contained some great sketches introduced by Dawson, belonging to the same style as The Frost Report and Not the Nine O'Clock News, but series 2 and 3, with Dawson appearing in the sketches and joining the writing team of Andy Hamilton and Terry Ravenscroft, were miserable affairs. Overlong sketches, Dawson often underrehearsed, the jarring slapping of the ladies' bottoms in the 'control room', and not particularly funny recurring characters all added up to a show that almost sent you to sleep to miss the few good lines that made it through.

There are some notable cameos in the sketches, such at Johnny Ball, Robin Parkin, and Peter Blake who plays a DJ in one episode almost identical to his character in the excellent Agony.

I am grateful to Simply Media for releasing these shows on DVD, but cannot imagine wanting to sit through it all again.