Comedians mourn loss of Les Dawson

LES DAWSON, dour creator of a thousand mother-in-law jokes, died yesterday during a routine visit to hospital. He was 59.

One of Britain's most popular humourists, he collapsed during an out-patient appointment at St Joseph's Bupa hospital in Manchester and could not be revived. He had been receiving treatment for a heart complaint.

Tributes came last night from friends and fellow comedians who said his death was made more poignant by his having been enjoying a lease of life after his marriage to his second wife, Tracy, and the birth last year of their child, Charlotte. Mr Dawson and his first wife, Meg, who died of cancer, had four children.

He had suffered from heart and lung problems for seven years but recently lost weight and adopted a healthier regime.

Obituary, page 28