Theatre interview: Les Dennis in High School Musical 2 at the Bristol Hippodrome

Thursday 28th January 2010

He’s been a gameshow host and appeared in Extras with Ricky Gervais. Now Les Dennis is the “token oldie” in High School Musical 2. Natalie Hale finds out more.

Les Dennis’ life has been one of mixed fortunes. The 80s comic-cum-gameshow host went from the heady heights of entertaining millions every Saturday night on The Laughter Show and Family Fortunes to hitting rock bottom, with a very public breakdown and earning a reputation of a has-been and figure of fun.

Now, says Les, he has come full circle and is back at the top of his game. The affable and honest star is currently entertaining a whole new generation in the hit stage musical High School Musical 2. The 56-year-old says he plays the “token oldie” and is having a ball doing it.

“It’s nice to be in a show with such an energetic, brilliant young company. I’ve just come back to the show after doing panto, and I’m finding the energy really uplifting, and I think the audiences do as well.”

High School Musical 2, the new theatrical adaptation of the global entertainment phenomenon Disney Channel original movie, sees the return of Troy, Gabriella, Taylor and Chad, who have all landed summer work at an exclusive country club. Unfortunately, the club belongs to the family of scheming Ryan and Sharpay, who make it their mission to stir things up for the friends.

The action builds and finally comes to a head at the country club’s all-important Midsummer Night’s Talent Show.

Dennis, who married for the third time last year and has a one-year-old daughter, plays Mr Fulton, manager of an American country club.

“In the film you’ve got the father, the teacher and the coach, but in the stage production, there’s just me playing the token oldie. All those older characters are represented by him – he’s the father figure.

“I don’t do that much singing and dancing, and the bits I do, I do in flippers and a diving mask, so that covers a multitude of sins!

“I didn’t know much about the show when I was offered he role. I knew about as much about it as I do about Harry Potter films – I have never watched them, but they’re hard to avoid. So when I was approached about doing it, I watched the movie and enjoyed it.

“I actually think the stage version is better. The audiences go crazy for it! I come out the door and it’s like fans at a rock concert.”

Like the cast that surround him onstage, Les embarked on his career in showbiz at a young age. Unlike them, the 17-year-old schoolboy learned his trade in the Northern workingmen’s pubs and clubs. Appearances on TV talent shows Opportunity Knocks and New Faces – the Britain’s Got Talent of their day – followed. Then in 1982 came his big break, with the Russ Abbott Madhouse.

“That series was really great for me,” says Les. “Not only was it a lot of fun and got me recognised, but it was also when I met my future comedy partner Dustin Gee.”

Dennis and Gee were offered their own Saturday-night TV show, The Les and Dustin Laughter Show, which was a ratings smash and featured a wealth of the versatile duo’s impressions – most famously Coronation Street’s Mavis (Les Dennis) and Vera (Dustin Gee).

But Gee, who had been diagnosed with a heart condition, died at the height of his fame in 1986. He and Dennis were appearing together in pantomime at the time. He was just 43.

Dennis performed his way through it, suppressing his grief by getting laughs on stage. He continued with the panto, with Jim Bowen replacing his best friend.

“Back then, when I went through things like that, I’d just think that the show must go on. That’s the mindset you get from working the pubs and clubs. With hindsight, that’s probably not the best way to look at it, and it’s not how I think now.

“I miss Dustin to this day. It’s 25 years since he died and it’s a tribute to him that so many people still remember him. He was just a brilliant talent and the loveliest bloke, so you’re always going to miss someone like that.”

After Gee died, Dennis’ solo career resumed and he hosted ITV’s hugely popular game show, Family Fortunes for a whopping 16 years.

“It was great Saturday night telly. It would come on after Blind Date and everyone used to watch it. Students tell me that they watched those two shows while getting ready to go out. It reached a broad demographic.”

In 1993, while still fronting Family Fortunes, Dennis met aspiring young actress Amanda Holden. The two married in 1995.

The couple were often seen together on the red carpet, but things turned sour when Holden had an affair with her co-star Neil Morrissey.

Then Dennis made a decision that was to change his life. In 2002, he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house where he famously broke down. But what seemed like the final nail in the coffin of his foundering career, ultimately became his saviour.

“At the time, it certainly didn’t feel like the best decision! I came second to Mark Owen, yes, but when I came out I had a lot of flak for what had gone on in the house.

“But then if I hadn’t done it, I wouldn’t have got the call from Ricky Gervais to do Extras, which really was a turning point for me.” Gervais’ hit sit-com saw Dennis parody himself as a sad failure. Acknowledging and laughing at the public perception of himself, Dennis got the best reviews of his life and regained his confidence.

“It was a great time for me. Ricky and Stephen Merchant know exactly what they want from their working day. It starts early, but finishes early because they don’t want to be going on until 7 or 8 o’clock at night.

“We just laughed all the time. Ricky gets this twinkle in his eye, but in the end he gets the job done – and it’s a great job.

“Personally, it changed everything for me. Although I had done a lot of repertory theatre, once you are known for one thing – like Family Fortunes – you tend to get pigeon-holed. But I think that Extras showed people that I could act, albeit I was playing – as Ricky puts it – a twisted, demented version of myself.”

Since then, Dennis has embarked on a number of ‘straight’ roles on stage, performed at the Edinburgh Festival and appeared in The Bill and Holby City. And when the curtain comes down on High School Musical 2, Dennis will be joining the cast of another popular musical.

“Liam Doyle, who stars with me in High School Musical after winning the GMTV Search for Troy competition, will be going straight on to star in Hairspray with Michael Ball. In fact, about 15 of our cast are going to be in that production, including me!

“It’s a very exciting time for me and I’m enjoying the ride.”

High School Musical 2 appears at Bristol Hippodrome from Monday, February 8, to Saturday, February 13. Tickets cost £17.50-£32.50 – call 0844 847 2325.