Lee is Dawn Tinsley's fiancé. He works downstairs in the paper warehouse of Wernham Hogg. Lee has a working-class background, and his treatment of Dawn is boorish and, at times, harsh. His counterpart in the US Version is Roy Anderson.
History[]
Lee and Dawn knew each other since their days at high school, and obviously had been together for a good while before the events of The Office.
Lee proposed to Dawn on Valentine's Day 1998. He didn't do it face-to-face; instead, he had a message printed in the local newspaper, reading "Lee love Dawn, Marriage?". (Training)
Series 1[]
Lee went up to the office to collect Dawn after work. Dawn wanted to go for a drink with her colleagues, but Lee insisted on them leaving. When Tim Canterbury told him he should join them, Lee replied that he and Dawn had to go. Dawn left Tim and Lee alone while she ran a final errand, which led to an uncomfortable silence between the two. Tim asked what was in Lee's bag, which led to Lee deciding that he would wait outside. (Downsize)
Lee later watched a video of his dog having sex with his colleague Glyn's dog while at work. (Work Experience)
On Tim's 30th birthday, Lee and Dawn bought him a huge inflatable penis as a present. David Brent and Gareth Keenan soon came over and began making countless phallus-based puns. Lee was also present as a witness to David starting the phrase; "I'm not saying he's unlucky but if he fell into a barrel of tits he'd come out sucking his thumb." (The Quiz)
Later on, Lee and Dawn are discussing their wedding with Tim and Jamie. Lee has no intention of it being a flashy wedding, and intends to just get married at the local registry office. He also discusses their plans for the future: moving in with his mother for a while and letting Dawn have a few kids and getting a part-time cleaning job. When Dawn makes a joke about this, Tim laughs which Lee responds to by pointing out that Tim should get a life before he starts making fun of theirs. (The Quiz)
Lee attends the annual quiz night, and later is the one to suggest Chris Finch throws Tim's shoe over the building. (The Quiz)
Some time later, Lee and Dawn got into a fight and very temporarily broke up. They worked things out in a few hours; however, Tim did not realize this and asked Dawn out in front of everyone. (Training)
Lee attends the office party with Dawn, where he confronts Tim about having asked her out previously. Tim states that he meant as a friend, but Lee reveals he's not that bothered and is just winding him up. (Judgement)
Series 2[]
Lee walked in on Tim and Dawn playfully dancing, which led to Lee pushing Tim against a wall in anger. (Merger)
The next day, Lee apologized and bought Tim a bottle of wine as a gift. Gareth reassured Lee that nothing was going on between Tim and Dawn because he had been watching them like a hawk. Lee didn't seem to care for what Gareth had to say. (Appraisals)
The Christmas specials[]
Following the end of Series 2, Lee and Dawn had been 'living' in Florida by illegally prolonging a vacation. Lee and Dawn had been hiding with his sister (rent-free), hiding from the law, and he was bouncing between different jobs. They were eventually brought back to the UK, to reunite the cast.
After attending the reunion party, Lee insisted that he and Dawn should leave. However, their journey away from the office would be their last journey as a couple; Dawn had received, from Tim, her Secret Santa, a set of oil paints, reminding her of her dream to illustrate books. She returned to the party, having left Lee, and revealed her feelings for Tim.