Dawson starred in "Listen to Les" on BBC Radio 2 in the 1970s and 1980s. Television series in which he appeared included "Sez Les" for Yorkshire Television, "The Dawson Watch" for the BBC, written by Andy Hamilton and Terry Ravenscroft, "The Les Dawson Show", written by Terry Ravenscroft, "Dawson's Weekly", "Jokers Wild" (1969–73) and the quiz show "Blankety Blank", which he presented from 1984 until its cancellation in 1990. He made many appearances on BBC Television's variety show, "The Good Old Days" in the 1970s and '80s. When Richard Wilson turned down the part of Victor Meldrew in the BBC sitcom "One Foot In The Grave", writer David Renwick considered Dawson for the role, but Wilson changed his mind before it was offered. His final TV appearance was on the LWT series "Surprise, Surprise" hosted by Cilla Black, in which he sang a comic rendition of "I Got You Babe" with a woman from the audience who wanted to sing with him. The episode was aired shortly after his death.