Charlotte Dawson has spoken emotionally about the pain of Father's Day, which serves as a bittersweet reminder of the father she lost far too soon. The reality star, 33, is the daughter of comedy legend Les Dawson, who died of a heart attack in 1993 when she was just eight months old. While she celebrates the day with fiancé Matthew Sarsfield, 34, with whom she shares three children, the occasion also brings back the grief of growing up without her famous dad.
“It’s really emotional and I wish he was here,” she said. “On Father’s Day, it really does hit home.”
Growing Up Without a Father Figure
Reflecting on her childhood, Charlotte admitted it was painful “not knowing him fully” because of her young age. She had to get to know her father through pictures and videos, a process she described as both a blessing and a burden. “I’m very lucky, because some people don’t have that. There’s this massive legacy that I’ve got as well, but to be honest, I’d prefer to drop all that and have him back,” she said.
She added that the hardest part was not having a father to turn to, especially now that she has her own children. “The hardest thing is not having a dad there and having that person to go to and talk to. Especially around the kids as well.”
Keeping Les Dawson’s Memory Alive
Charlotte has credited her mother, Tracy, now 75, as “my icon, my hero, my best friend.” Tracy has been instrumental in preserving Les’s memory. “My mum is beautiful inside and out and has done an amazing job of keeping my dad’s memory alive while I was growing up. He would be so proud of her,” Charlotte said.
Tracy once noted the strong resemblance between Charlotte and Les, saying, “I can see Les so strongly all the time in Charlotte. I see him in her mannerisms, the things she says, the way she acts. Like Les, she doesn’t take life too seriously.”
Charlotte now has her own family with Matthew—sons Noah, five, Jude, two, and daughter Gigi, 15 months. She is determined to keep her father’s legacy alive for them. She even has a cardboard cut-out of Les in her home. “Gigi puts her hand on it,” she said. “They know all about him. If they see a butterfly they say, ‘It’s Grandad.’”
Seeing clips of her father makes her laugh, and she fondly describes him as a “warm, loving man that I’m lucky enough to call my dad and the kids can call their grandad.”
Dealing with Online Trolls
Charlotte, who gained fame on Ex On The Beach, has built a large following on Instagram with her unfiltered, humorous videos about motherhood. However, she has also faced severe online abuse. She revealed that trolls have made comments about her late father and even posted an image of her son Noah’s name on a gravestone. “When it is about my kids, it does get to me and sometimes I think, ‘Should I stop showing them?’ But I’m not really like that. I like to show my life and kids,” she said.
In one instance, a troll reported her to social services, falsely accusing her of giving her son alcohol. “Social services were lovely. They rang the police on this person and told me who it was. It’s crazy how someone can be so obsessed with trying to ruin my life,” she said. The ordeal was stressful, especially as she was pregnant with Jude at the time and went into early labour. “I cried and cried. I was thinking of horrible things, like what if I got my kids taken off me? It was a nightmare situation, but we dealt with it as a family and realised this person is sick.”
Future Ambitions and Body Image
Looking ahead, Charlotte wants to return to TV and pursue comedy. “I’d love to do the jungle and Strictly, because I feel like it’s meant to be for me. The outfits, the tan… and Blackpool is my hometown. I would like to get into comedy as well and do stand-up,” she said.
She has also been open about her weight fluctuations, from size 6 to size 18. “I’m never going to lose that pouch,” she said, pointing to her tummy. “But I’m not really bothered now. I would love to get my boobs done and my bunions. I’ve got good boobs when they’re in a bra, but when I take it off, they nearly end up next to my bunions.” She has started spinning and sculpt classes to stay active.
Charlotte and Matthew are also focusing on their relationship. “Me and Matthew have said we need to have a bit of time together now. We don’t have a minute to sit down, so we need to get that back,” she said. Despite the chaos, she hasn’t ruled out having more children. “I do love a loud, crazy house. Three is like having 10 kids, so imagine four! I’d love another girl so Gigi has a sister, but I’m so indecisive. For now, I’m happy with the dynamic I’ve got.”
