Les Dennis

**Violet** · 07-12-2006

Isn't he from Liverpool?

Anyway, I love him, he is a lovely man. I even met him a couple of years ago in a rock club in town.

**bazzacat** · 07-12-2006

Without a doubt the best host of "Family Fortunes"- anyone remember the names of the no mark who followed? Thought not!

Bob Monkhouse was ok, but Max Bygraves????

Shapers · 07-12-2006

What does he actually do now apart from his echo column?

**matt** · 07-12-2006

He was in an episode of Extras which was absolutely hilarious. How Ricky Gervais got away with it, I'll never know! It basically took the p!ss right out of his real life!!

Genius!

**Kev** · 07-12-2006

Originally Posted by matt

He was in an episode of Extras which was absolutely hilarious. How Ricky Gervais got away with it, I'll never know! It basically took the p!ss right out of his real life!!

Genius!

It was. There was much talk about that episode with the recent public split with Amanda Hold'em. Loosly 'based' or somthing, yes ok les

Best thing that has happened to him.

The Ross Kemp one was well funny too. Vinnie Jones

**Kev** · 07-12-2006

Les Dennis (born Leslie Dennis Heseltine on October 12, 1953 in Liverpool).

As a comedian Dennis has appeared on numerous light-entertainment shows and worked originally as a stooge to Russ Abbott before forming a successful comedy partnership with fellow impressionist, the late Dustin Gee. Following Gee's death in 1986, he is probably best known as the host of Family Fortunes from 1987 to 2002. He has also acted in soap operas Brookside, Casualty and Crossroads. Dennis appeared in the second series of the UK Celebrity Big Brother during the period that his marriage to Amanda Holden was collapsing. He was visibly fragile, and in January 2006 he was one of only two former participants to refuse to allow archive footage of his time in the house to be used in a retrospective documentary about the first three series.

On August 11, 2005 Dennis appeared as a guest star in the BBC-series Extras starring Ricky Gervais. In this appearance, Dennis played himself and made several jokes about his career, or the lack thereof. He received praise from reviewers for being so honest and open about his career (and being willing to be the punchline of jokes about his apparent lack of success), and is even rumoured to have rejected the original script, claiming that it was too tame. In September and October 2005 he appeared in Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon, in which he appeared at the winners' homes to present the prizes they had won.

In 2006, Les presented and perfomed in the BBC's The Sound of Musicals.

It has recently been announced that Les will star in a new comedy play called "Marlon Brando's Corset", which tours the UK from July, including a four week run at the Edinburgh Fringe - which incredibly marks Les's first appearance at the Fringe, despite an impressive career on the stage.

Les has always supported his local community groups: Click here

**matt** · 07-12-2006

My favourite was the Kate Winslet one.
Can't believe she was talking about and simulating phone sex!!

**Kev** · 07-12-2006

Check out the Extras thread.

**bazzacat** · 08-30-2006

Five sign Dennis for TV quiz show
Former Family Fortunes host Les Dennis is returning to primetime television as the presenter of a quiz show on Five.
The comedian's programme, Speculation, is described as "a hugely psychological game of nerve, strategy and luck" and "fiendishly fun" by its producers.

Players must search for money on a grid at the same time as avoiding penalties and trying to trick their opponents.

Dennis, 51, was runner-up in Celebrity Big Brother in 2002 but has had a relatively low profile on TV since.

He appeared in an episode of the BBC comedy series Extras with Ricky Gervais last year, which he described as "one of the most joyous working experiences" of his career.

He played an actor who was reduced to the role of a genie in a pantomime, and he appeared naked in one memorable scene, with Gervais desperately trying to shield his eyes.

High-profile divorce

Dennis revealed he was "thrilled" to be working on Speculation.

"I said I'd only do another quiz show if the right one came along - and this is it," he added.

Dennis presented popular ITV programme Family Fortunes for nearly 15 years but left in 2002 to focus on acting.
He also made the headlines when he divorced his wife Amanda Holden three years ago.

And his appearance on Channel 4's celebrity version of Big Brother generated controversy.

Dennis appeared to be under a great deal of strain during the nomination and eviction process, although his agent denied he was "cracking up".

He eventually came second behind Take That star Mark Owen.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...nt/5297926.stm

Published: 2006/08/30 10:21:49 GMT

© BBC MMVI

**johnlemmon** · 08-30-2006

well done again Kev... you are a great source of knowledge...

you are either a very generous, kind. warm. friendly helpful caring sort of person...

or a boring old fart with too much time on your hands...

I prefer to think the former...

Lemmo...