Dawson was nominated for "Sexiest Male" at the 2004 British Soap Awards, for "Sexiest Male" and "Best Villain" at the 2005 Inside Soap Awards. and for "Funniest Performance" in 2007 at the Inside Soap Awards. In 2009, he was nominated for "Best Actor" at the British Soap Awards, "Best Actor" and "Funniest Performance" at the Inside Soap Awards. Dawson was nominated for "Best Actor", "Funniest Performance" and "Sexiest Male" in 2010 for his role as Darren at the Inside Soap Awards. Also in 2010, at the British Soap Awards, Dawson was nominated for the "Sexiest Male" award. In 2011 he received a nomination for "Sexiest Male" at the British Soap Awards. In 2012 Dawson was again nominated for "Best Actor" and for "Best On-Screen Partnership" at the British Soap Awards. In 2012 Dawson was nominated for "Best Actor" at the 2012 TV Choice Awards. At the 2012 Inside Soap Awards Dawson was nominated for "Best Actor" and "Sexiest Male". In August 2017, Dawson was longlisted for Funniest Male at the Inside Soap Awards. He made the viewer-voted shortlist, but lost out to Dominic Brunt, who portrays Paddy Kirk in "Emmerdale".