Origins of Sir Les Patterson
Barry Humphries mentions this to Michael Parkinson. You'll find it starts at 12'15"
LINK to a video clip
I've found a little more information:
A year later (1973) I was with Barry at his first appearance as Les Patterson. Barry asked would I come with him to the Rooty Hill RSL Club in Sydney’s outer suburbs.
Shortly after we sat down in the auditorium, Barry got up and said: “I’ll be back soon.”
A little while later, a nondescript bloke in a crumpled suit stumbled on stage and said: “Gidday. Name’s Leslie Colin Patterson. Manager, Rooty Hill.” He then delivered a meandering monologue on the theme “Time Waits for No Man”. It took me a couple of minutes to realise it was Barry!
This was before he converted Les into Australia’s dribbling, randy, dipsomaniacal Minister for the Yartz.
Barry often told me that Les Patterson was the character he enjoyed playing the most. This was because, as a long-time sober person, he could channel all of his many negativities into the dreadful drunkard, Sir Les.
Ross Fitzgerald AM, emeritus professor of history and politics at Griffith University
(January 2026)
