Cissie and Ada

[1][2][3][4][5][6] Dawson explained that this mouthing of words (or "mee-mawing") was a habit of Lancashire millworkers trying to communicate by lip reading over the tremendous racket of the looms.

[8] Barraclough recalled that his characterisation of Cissie "was drawn from an aunt of mine who always thought she was slightly above the rest of the family, Auntie Annie.

A new play written by Graham Warrener, (incorporating Cissie and Ada original sketches from Dawson's BBC days, written by Terry Ravenscroft), and directed by JJ (John-Jackson) Almond, Cissie And Ada: An Hysterical Rectomy,[11] began a UK tour at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool on 15 July 2013, in Les Dawson's hometown.

The show starred Eric Potts as Ada/Les, Steve Nallon as Cissie/Roy, Steven Arnold as the writer and Natasha Magigi as the dresser.

[12] In 2006, Sir Ian McKellen, writing in The Independent, named them the tenth best drag act ever created, commenting that they "were as real as the crones in the Rover's Return".