Les Dennis is back in his crowd-pleasing element in Only Fools The Musical | theater | entertainment

Lee Denise is exclusively photographed at the Royal Haymarket Theatre. (Photo: Daily Express)

“It is very important that we make sure that our children, in addition to taking English and Maths into the school curriculum, learn to love the creative arts.” He does not have a daughter, Eleanor, who is 14, and a son, Tom, who is 11. He says that they both love their school work but especially look forward to school play.

“And that could go on for a long time. I’ve heard that drama probably won’t be a subject taught in school anymore, and I really feel like it should be.”

His rhetorical style of experimenting with the arts is hitting it step by step now, the 69-year-old continues: “Culture gives us a myriad of different things to enjoy. I recently re-read Arthur Miller’s play A View From The Bridge because my daughter is doing an essay on it.

“It’s a wonderful, beautiful play based on a Greek tragedy. Such a play makes us laugh, it makes us cry, and it also makes us discuss the world we live in.”

During the Covid lockdowns the government seemed to give very little support to people working in the arts.

“There was a time during the pandemic when actors were required to go and retrain, which didn’t sit well with people in the theater industry,” he notes.

“In a government announcement, a ballerina was told she had to retrain as an IT worker. There was a sweet thing I saw on Twitter at the time. The Beatles were crossing Abe Road, but John Lennon was going the other way. People were asking him,” To Where are you going, John?” And he said, “I’m going to do the IT retraining” — imagine that!

After a long period when theaters were forced to close and Les was unable to indulge his first love – performing live – he was delighted to be back in front of an audience last year when he took part in two critically acclaimed performances of English National Opera.

Tom Bennett, Not Dennis and Ryan Houghton in Folly and Horses Only Musical

Tom Bennett, Not Dennis and Ryan Houghton in Folly and Horses Only Musical (Image: GETTY)

“I was based at the London Coliseum from May until December, ’cause I pinned hair with Michael Ball, and then I stayed to do HMS Pinafore,” he recalled.

“When we opened Hairspray, we were only allowed 1,000 people in 2,300 seats, and we thought maybe we wouldn’t get the same kind of response as we did before the pandemic. But we were so amazed by the reaction of people that we were so happy to be back there.”

He continues, “We’ve established that people want culture, they want to be able to go out and experience arts and live music. They were just happy to be back.”

Sadly, the future for some arts companies looks bleak in the current financial climate.

Earlier this month, the Arts Council England revealed that it is severely cutting its funding for several famous art organisations. For example, the beloved English National Opera’s £12.6m annual endowment would be scrapped and replaced with a £17m fund, but over three years.

Despite the bleak predictions among critics, Lees believes the arts are still critical, vibrant, and beloved by audiences.

As if to prove the point, he’s now playing Grandad in Only Fools And Horses The Musical opposite Tom Bennett (as DelBoy) and Ryan Hutton (Rodney).

The show opened three years ago and – despite being denied closure – is still playing to packed houses in London’s West End.

Les says the measure of his popularity is the reaction of his friends. “People call me all the time asking how do I get tickets?”

The musical is hugely popular with both critics and audiences and was written by Fast Show star Paul Whitehouse, who first played Grandad, and Jim Sullivan, the son of the sitcom’s original creator, John.

Despite this, Liz’s children initially had no idea what their father was starring in. “When I told my kids I only do idiots, they asked, ‘What is that? he remembers with a smile.

The star quickly introduced them to the beloved sitcom. “I showed them all the classics like the chandelier falling, Del Boy falling off the beam, the Batman and Robin episode – and they loved them,” he recalled.

“One Sunday afternoon, we’re watching old episodes, and they’re just fascinated by it.” Liz, who has been married to his wife Claire since 2009, has a theory as to why Only Fools has dominated all generations of viewers. “I think that’s what close family is all about,” he explains.

There’s a nice joke on the show where Rodney says to Del, “Why do you care about me?” And Dale replied, “Because you are my brother. And you never know when you might need a little bone marrow.”

“The idea is, ‘I’m going to joke with you and I’m going to beat you up,’ but underneath there is this utter positive love in the Trotter family. What Paul and Jim meant was to capture every element of the TV show, but also to have the pity of the Trotter family, who are such a dysfunctional family.” which love and care for each other.

Les and Russ Abbott on The Ross Abbott Show in 1986

Les and Russ Abbott on The Ross Abbott Show in 1986 (Image: GETTY)

Leigh believes audiences are also rejoicing in Del Boy’s “optimism and attitude, ‘This time next year, we’re going to be millionaires. ‘” He adds, “It’s almost the American Dream.” Beckham’s dream!

Now that the pandemic is over, British audiences are basking in the impeccable joy of live theatre. “I think it’s the kind of show we need right now. It takes us away from everything that’s going on and the fears that we have. People want that kind of escape.”

“I love all the heavy, dramatic bits on our theatrical history. But if I were to take out My Family now, I’d choose to go and see something light and funny like Only Fools.”

At the end of each show, Lees and his fellow actors noted how excited their audience was. “We’re very close company, so we enjoy this reaction and then we all go for a drink together. We’ve found a pub near the stage, but unfortunately it’s not called The Nag’s Head.”

Catchphrases that appear regularly in the musical are particularly popular. In addition to “Jubbly Beautiful,” the audience can enjoy “You’re a plonker!” and “You dipstick!” and ‘cushty’, ‘pukka’, ‘Who dares win’ and ‘This time next year we’ll be millionaires’.

Also featured are well-loved staples like Del Boy falling through the bar and rickety chandelier and battered old yellow Relant Robin. Playing Grandad, Les is clearly having the time of his life.

The actor enjoys the character’s endearing misunderstandings — when he confuses a microwave for television, for example, or when Del Boy tries to explain what the CEO is, and Grandad helpfully interjects: “Everyone knows it’s a flying saucer.”

When later Grandad leaves his beloved chair and leads the company on its knees riotous at The Nag’s Head to “Where Have All The Cockneys Gone?” He was greeted with a round of enthusiastic applause.

During his 50-year career, Les has done everything from presenting game shows, appearing opposite Ricky Gervais in sitcoms, and performing in the Royal Shakespeare Company to appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, playing a long-running role on Coronation Street and headlining in Panto.

When he looks at his work, he is struck by its enormous diversity. “Sometimes when I get on a theater program, and I look at my resume, I think, ‘Did I really do all that?'” I’ve always tried to do something where I’m like, ‘Oh, okay. Well, here’s a challenge. I’d better try it.”

Les began his professional career in the early 1970s, initially performing stand-up comedy in work with men’s clubs. His early television role saw him star in BBC’s The Laughter Show, alongside fellow comedian Dustin Gee, who died suddenly in 1986. Shortly thereafter, Les began his 15-year career as host of Family Fortunes.

“It started at the end,” he recalls of his early career. “I worked with Ken Dodd and Jimmy Tarbuck. But that world just didn’t exist anymore, so I had to diversify, and I’m glad it did. And I’m glad those risks paid off.

Sir Joseph in ENO's 2021 production of HMS Pinafore

Sir Joseph in ENO’s 2021 production of HMS Pinafore (Photo: PR Bulletin)

“What I sometimes call myself is a jack of all trades, master of some. I’d say master of anything. But then I thought, ‘Wait a minute. I’ve actually done quite a job at some stuff. ‘” Despite such an accomplished profession, there are certainly still some unfulfilled ambitions.

“I still get Shakespeare agitated,” he says. “I did a season of comedy and tragedy in Restoration at the RSC just before the pandemic and it was amazing. I got a taste of it. I’d love to play one of Shakespeare’s clowns. I don’t take myself seriously enough. I think I could play Lear,” But maybe a scammer.”

In the meantime, he’s more than happy to continue filming Grandad.

“I’m only playing it until January 7th, when I’m off doing another play. Sadly, I can’t tell you what it is just yet, but I’m looking forward to a nice meaty role. Still, I’ll always be happy to come back and sit in Grandad’s chair.”

In this case he may face some stiff competition for the role.

“There might be a line queuing up to play Grandad,” he admits. “I might have to lock myself in the chair. But with all the chocolate cookies Grandad eats during the show, I’m going to be stuck anyway!”

  • Only Fools and the Musical Horses is at the Royal Haymarket Theatre. visiting onlyfoolsmusical.com For tickets and information



(Visited 15 times, 1 visits today)

Related posts