Les Dawson's Lost Diaries (Channel 4)

[Wink Wink]

Watched this on TV last night. Never knew he had had such a troubled life, depression, booze & a complete workaholic all which led to his early death.

Of course the depression he worked into his act, always acting glum so peolpe thought it was an act!

Why is that so many comics have such troubled lives. Think of the likes of Spike Milligan, Tommy Cooper & Ken Williams, may be they use humour as away of lifting themselves out of the dark side of their lives!

[The Last Word]

No to mention Connelly and Hancock, of course. And it's not just us. From the States John Belushi and Lenny Bruce were both troubled souls, and only last month the brilliant humourist Spalding Gray took his own life - a dreadful shock to his many followers.

One theory is that because they understand comedy to such a degree, they very rarely find much that is funny themselves, something that ultimately drives a wedge between them and their audience. No matter how much they can communicate and relate, they will always be on seperate sides.

[Wink Wink]

The another theory is that people like Spike Milligan have such active minds it can drive them mad, happens in other fields too, writers, composer's etc.

[steve56]

they are on the go all the time a lot are hiley strung i liked spikes humour but never found dawson funny,in fact in 1970 spike was put on tablets that had side effects like i was when my epilepsey started i was on phenobarb which was a nightmare.

[Guilbert]

>No to mention Connelly

I would not put Billy Connelly in the same grouping as Handcock,
Ken Williams, Spike Milligan etc.

Having read the book by his wife Pamela, he seems fairly level
headed and positive compared to the others mentioned.

I know he had a troubled childhood, but he seems to have risen
above that and now knows what he wants out of life and how to
enjoy himself.

I could not see Billy Conelly ending his own life in the way Ken
Williams and Tony Handcock did.

Guilbert

[Guilbert]

I am not sure comedians have more troubled lives than
in any other branch of the entertainment business.

In the rock world we have had Kurt Cobain, Keith Moon,
and many others.

In the movie world James Dean, River Phoenix etc

Writers have drunk or drugged themselves to death,
and Tchaikovsky is rumoured to have killed himself.

I think there is a percentage of people in all walks of
life who are troubled, Harold Shipman and Ian Huntley
are examples.

I think comedians stand out because they are expected
to make people laugh, so their troubles are in such
contrast to their 'work.

Guilbert

[DavidS]

I agree with you Steve about Les Dawson. Nevertheless I regret not recording the programme.