24seven: Les Dennis - I'm proud to be a local lad made good; Les Dennis tells Peter Grant why he's at the art of our award ceremony.

Byline: Peter Grant

LES Dennis is in the mood to celebrate ... and he knows that the ECHO Entertainment Awards evening is more than a celebration of Liverpool talent.

``I am what I am because I come from Liverpool,'' says the comedian, actor and quiz show host.

Garston-born Les describes hosting the awards at the Liverpool Empire this weekend as a `dream job'.

``Being the MC for the ECHO Entertainment Awards is special,'' he says. ``I like to see new talent come through. I know how hard it is to get that breakthrough. The main thing is you must keep that talent going and develop it further.

``That is why the awards are so positive - they illustrate just what can be achieved.''

Les, 47, married to actress Amanda Holden, has enjoyed a varied career, becoming a household name as the third and longest serving presenter of Family Fortunes.

But after 15 years with the show he decided to quit in July.

``I have great memories and the show works - the formula is right,'' he says.

``The daft answers were priceless: `what can you wear on a beach?' Answer - `a deckchair'.

``Another was `in what game can you use black balls?' Answer - `darts!'.''

He laughs: ``My favourite was `what occupation uses a torch?' and the answer came back - `burglar'.

``On another occasion I said `how can you toast a friend?' Instead of hearing something like `clinking a glass' someone said `on an open fire or grill'.''

Les laughs out loud at the memories. ``But I had been there and done it. I don't think I could have taken it any further and I wasn't really happy with the way it was being moved around the schedules. ``I remember I once tried to give my presentation style a harder edge, but it just didn't work. The show is fine the way it is, so why change it?

``I wish the new host all the very best.''

Les has just finished recording his final shows and is now looking forward to more acting roles.

``I am a great believer in fresh challenges and that's the positive thing about this industry - it's competitive,'' he says.

``I want to be stretched in what I do. To try everything. I have played everyone from a slimy dad, Jeff Evans in Brookside, to a cheesy quiz show host in the film Large, which went on to Cannes.''

This year also saw him get tough with comedian Bob Mortimer.

``I took part in Sport Relief and had such a laugh boxing with Bob Mortimer. When we were boxing it was REAL. I trained for months - he won, but I put up a good fight.''

Les, who lives in North London, says Sunday night will be a real reunion of pals and those people special to him and his strong Liverpool roots.

``I still have a lot of family in Liverpool - including my sisters,'' he says.

``I do try and get back here when I can. And Amanda's dad was from the area, so there's always a lot to talk about.''

Les says the last time he enjoyed hosting a show was for his former Quarry Bank school pal Stephen Yip who runs KIND - Kids In Need and Distress. He also returns to help out Mike McCartney promoting community developments in Speke. Both are keen to encourage young talent.

``On Merseyside there is an abundance of talent in music, theatre and sport,'' he says.

Before Family Fortunes Les was known for his comedy partnership with Dustin Gee until the latter's tragic death in 1986 while appearing together in panto at Southport.

He says he still thinks about his old pal from Yorkshire whose career was cut short at 43 after a major heart attack. The pair developed their act on Russ Abbot's TV Madhouse.

``It was a good team and he was a great mate and there was real chemistry there.

``I know Dustin and I would have continued working as a double act but with our solo outlets, too.'' Les made his own name on such shows as New Faces and The Comedians, and was the first impressionist to do Michael Crawford's Frank Spencer.

But he relishes straight acting. He will be seen in the third series of Merseybeat, currently being filmed in Hough Green.

``I play a bit of a villain,'' he says. ``I love showing the dark side of me.

``I enjoy doing things that people don't expect.''

He says he is extremely proud of Amanda's TV work from her sitcom success in Kiss Me Kate to the BBC dramas Hearts And Bones and Cutting It and now playing Debs, Harry Enfield's on-screen wife in Celeb.

``She can tackle comedy and straight drama,'' Les says proudly of his wife.

For now, Les is looking ahead to the ECHO Empire show and being a master of ceremonies.

``I looked at the 12 categories and it really does encompass everything that is strong, creative and productive about Liverpool.

``New comedy stars, contribution to television contenders - in front of camera and behind the scenes - will all be paid tribute to.

``I know it's been said before but everyone nominated deserves the recognition and it doesn't get much better than in your home town.''

After Sunday's celebrations, Les will be spending time writing material for a new venture.

``I am hoping to get back to some sort of stand up,'' he reveals. ``I hate the phrase - but I would like to do smaller more intimate venues.

``I will probably go off to Norfolk and sit in a garden and write some topical material.''

Les says that he still loves the buzz of live work and fans of the star will see one of the best ad libbers in the business on Sunday.

He says: ``I am quite shy away from stage work. I really am a private person.

``I only know that when I get up there on stage it's what I HAVE to do. I wasn't cut out to do anything else.

``There is one key word here which will be evident throughout on Sunday - `celebration'.

``It's really something to celebrate and I am so very proud to be a part of it.''