The Les Dawson Show

Then, in May 1981, BBC1 transmitted a bank holiday special that reunited Dawson with his longtime comedy compatriot Roy Barraclough, and Sez Les writer Terry Ravenscroft.

[6][7] It also replaced the Dougie Squires Dancers with Kids International, a multi-ethnic singing and dancing group assembled by the show's producer, Ernest Maxin.

For series two, Alyn Ainsworth joined-on as bandleader, and musical arrangements were handled by some new contributors to the programme, including Ivor Raymonde and Max Harris.

The Kids International Show aired on 24 December 1982; Maxin produced and directed, while Alyn Ainsworth and orchestra provided music.

[10] For the third series, which aired in 1983, Maxin remained as producer, but Ronnie Hazlehurst became the show's musical director, and comedian Eli Woods joined the cast.

[11] To replace of Kids International, Maxin conducted auditions to assemble a tap-dancing act named the Roly Polys.

Even so, Dawson and (show co-writer) Terry Ravenscroft found the man to lack an innate sense of comedy.

Meanwhile, Dawson's wife Margaret was gravely ill. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer years earlier, and finally succumbed in April 1986.