The veteran comedian, whose showbusiness career spanned more than half a century, was. When Monkhouse appeared in March at the Television and Radio Industries Club awards in London, where he received an award for his contribution to the entertainment world, the comedian wise-cracked: "I discovered about two years ago that visits to the loo were less and less profitable. He will be greatly missed. The former Family Fortune host died at his home in the village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, during the night, he said. [14] Among the audience were a number of British comedians who had been personally invited by Monkhouse, including Reece Shearsmith, Jon Culshaw, David Walliams, Fiona Allen and Mark Steel. "Anyone who understood comedy loved Bob. Thanks for the memories Bob, your wit and devilment was a wonderful gift you shared with all. He went on to front Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes, Bob's Full House, Bob Says Opportunity Knocks and, more recently, the National Lottery Draw. In the 1970s, a daily newspaper conducted a poll in which the stand-up comic and game-show host Bob Monkhouse, who has died from cancer aged 75, emerged as the third most popular performer on. Monkhouse also appeared in 12 films including Carry On Sergeant. What a sad loss. Bob died peacefully in his sleep this morning at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer.". !Martin, Hebburn, Tyne & Wear, Thanks Bob for having entertained us with your clean sense of humour and sharp wit you will be sadly missed.Baber, London, England, A true professional and a charming man whose humour managed to connect generations. And what other career highlights should you keep an eye out for on the programme? A Great Legacy
Monkhouse s u f f e r e d deeply after the death of his son, Simon, from a heroin overdose in a 1-a-night Thai guesthouse in 2001. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Thank you for your tributes to Bob Monkhouse. He only got back on terms with his mother after 20 years, shortly before she died. The golden shots Anne Aston, The man with a million jokes: Bob Monkhouse's legacy examined, Cache in the attic: Bob Monkhouse hid 50,000 comedy videos in his loft, True comedy gold: No one does humour quite like the British, Peter Prichard. He had an encyclopaedic capacity for recalling gags and one liners and could play to many different audiences. He died peacefully in his sleep with his wife Jackie at his side, said his manager of 38 years, Peter Prichard. I never got to work with him, but I did meet him once, and immediately, I could see why people who HAD worked with him called . His stand up skills were truly impressive; there are many working in the business today who could learn from watching tapes of Bob at the microphone. Monkhouse said: Am I going to be nice? Bob died peacefully in his sleep at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer.". Not only has Bob died today, but a huge chunk of showbusiness has too. [11] Monkhouse was known as a keen supporter of new comedy and used the show to introduce audiences to new comedians such as Kelly Monteith, Robin Williams and Jim Carrey. During the interview she produced a handgun and fired it on several occasions, destroying a plant pot on the set and a series of lights in the studio roof. In a piece written several years after Monkhouse's death, critic and satirist Michael Deacon suggested that although Monkhouse had feared that his legacy as a comedian would be limited, as many people knew him only from his decades of work as a game-show host, his style of writing and performing could be seen as influencing many contemporary British comedians, such as Jimmy Carr (whose book on comedy The Naked Jape quoted several Monkhouse jokes), Michael McIntyre, Peter Kay, John Bishop, Lee Mack and Tim Vine.[18]. Our thoughts and prayers are with his . The opening to each show would see him deliver several minutes of topical jokes and on one occasion, where his autocue failed, he improvised a new and topical routine. Aside from performing as a double act, Monkhouse and Goodwin wrote for comedians such as Arthur Askey, Jimmy Edwards, Ted Ray and Max Miller. A respected stand-up comedian, Monkhouse was known for his talent at ad-libbing. His true character came out not on the game shows but when on the stage - watch these performances for a taste or real comedy.David, Ashton, England, Thanks for the memory Bob, you will be missed!Jim Poole, Gt Yarmouth. On one occasion the guest was the comedian Pamela Stephenson, who, after prior arrangement with the show's producer, appeared in a series of fake plaster casts, apparently the result of accidents whilst at home. The former Family Fortune host died at his home in the village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, during the night, he said. He was diagnosed with the condition in September 2001. He was a UK institution and will be missed by millions. He even managed to joke about his disease, saying last year: "I call it the Taliban because it's the enemy within. His TV debut was in the 1950s comedy show Fast And Loose and by 1960 he was host of the British version of Candid Camera. Monkhouse was an avid campaigner for the disabled. He went to Saint Michael's School in Pinner and died in Braintree, Essex, in 1992, aged 40. The star died on 29 December aged 75, at his home in Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, after fighting bone and prostate cancer for more than two years. I saw him live a few years ago and whilst a little 'blue' I couldn't stop laughing at his jokes. BBC director general Greg Dyke said: "Bob was a major entertainment figure for nearly half a century with both the BBC and ITV.". Bob Monkhouse's Comedy Heroes: Directed by Willy Smax. He has been a comedy presence all my life and will be missed. [6][bettersourceneeded] While still at school, Monkhouse wrote for The Beano and The Dandy and drew for other comics including Hotspur, Wizard and Adventure. Bob Monkhouse. God bless his daughter and wife.David Murphy, England, Bob was a class act, his style, his charm and his amazing quick wit will be sadly missed. I want to die in the saddle. ", The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, Images from the veteran comic's lengthy career, Bob Monkhouse on Museum of Broadcast Communications. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. This is sad news for British comedy, but I expect Heaven will be a hoot now! Veteran British comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse died today at his Bedfordshire home, his manager said. [26][27] Money raised went to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.[28]. Mr Prichard described Monkhouse as "one of the finest men I've ever known. Id have paid good money to stay out of here. [25] Using computer animation techniques and a sound-alike actor, Monkhouse was seen in a graveyard next to his own grave (though in reality he was cremated) talking about the disease seriously, interspersed with humorous asides to another camera ("What killed me kills one man per hour in Britain. The TV career of one of Britain's bestloved entertainers began in 1947, when he appeared with comic partner Denis Goodwin. The British entertainment world is mourning comedian Bob Monkhouse, who has died aged 75. "I'm superficial. Rob Hall, Manchester, He always gave fantastically crisp and sharp responses on any topic. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy from the British Comedy Awards in 1995. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. He suffered very badly at times with it but he carried on. Then I'm being patronising. He presented the broadcast for two years between 1996 and 1998. It has been wonderful to hear the present day comics speak admiringly of this man. Some of his older work like The Golden Shot and Family Fortunes have been kept alive through satellite TV and archive shows, and they will forever remain classics - a measure of how talented a host he was.John, Scotland, If it were possible to study for a Phd in Comedy - Bob Monkhouse should have been awarded an honorary doctorate. He said: "The publicity shots I've done look pretty . Mr Monkhouse had a long and successful career in showbusiness and had hosted hundreds of television shows. Hilary, Guildford, UK, Witty, funny and as sharp as a razor. The format of the interviews varied between "true" chat and analysis of comedy to scripted routines in which Monkhouse would willingly play the role of the guest's stooge, as he did with Bob Hope.[11]. He will be greatly missed.Dave Shaw, Leamington Spa, "Improv" comedy was presented as something new a decade ago, but Bob was a faster thinker than anyone for as long as anyone can remember. Bob, you will be missed!Simon Botley, Kuching, Malaysia, We'll miss you. He was also such a great stand up comedian in all my 40 years of life never did I here Bob repeat a gag. He published his first cartoon when he was 12, and sold a joke to his hero, Max Miller, for five shillings when he was 15. His parents hoped he would join the family's custard business, but Bob and his friend Denis Goodwin had other plans. One of British TV's most popular performers with a career that spanned over four decades, funny-man Bob . Mr Prichard, who was Monkhouse's manager for 38 years, said: "Sadly, I have to announce the death of Bob Monkhouse OBE. RIP to the Big Man.Sharon, Wales, I'm sad to hear of Bob's untimely death. God bless you, Bob. Bob Monkhouse, one of the most enduring figures of British comedy, died at his home in Bedfordshire yesterday aged 75. His manager, Peter Prichard, said the entertainer died peacefully at his. [15], In 2008, the British Film Institute was contacted by Monkhouse's daughter, Abigail, who asked if they would like to view the collection and provide some advice as to the best way of preserving it. He made several guest appearances on television shows before he and his comedy partner Denis Goodwin launched their own television series, Fast and Loose, in
Monkhouse's TV shows included The Golden Shot - which at its peak had 16 million viewers - Opportunity Knocks and Bob's Full House. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Bob Monkhouse. Soon after, the then-24-year-old comedian realised that there was a false mirror on the ceiling and that other party guests were watching behind it. The couple separated in 1967[19] and divorced in 1972. Monkhouse was criticised for sycophancy towards his guests but said that they were all heroes of his and that was how he really felt about them. The show was broadcast by the BBC in 2016 and again in November 2019 and April 2020. Though regarded by some as smarmy, Monkhouse saw a revival in his career during the last 10 years, winning a new generation of fans and the respect of younger comics. He revealed that the only difficulty he experienced was with the Essex lot, who he defined as lary lads who came from the scrap-metal belt. He was the guv'nor," said Mr Prichard. Later Monkhouse and Ms Dors had an affair, which sparked fury after it was discovered by her husband Dennis Hamilton. Monkhouse died in 2003 of prostate cancer. My recovery has been dramatic and I'm ready to go back to work.". He married first wife Elizabeth at 21, but had several affairs - including one with Diana Dors - and the marriage quickly went sour - although the couple stayed together until 1966. Born in 1928, the young Monkhouse spent his spare time at home in Beckenham writing gags and drawing cartoons. Mr Prichard, who was Monkhouse's manager for 38 years, said: "Sadly, I have to announce the death of Bob Monkhouse OBE. [citation needed] He came back into fashion during the 1990s, and an appearance on Have I Got News for You helped to restore his popularity.[12]. "I want to die in the saddle. God Bless You BOB! In March, he received a five-minute standing ovation from fellow entertainers at an awards show and BBC1 screened a special on his 56-year TV career in October. One of his biggest successes was The Golden Shot from July 1967 until January 1972 and again from July 1974 to April 1975. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. He then moved to ITV to front two more game shows, Bob's Your Uncle and The $64,000 Question, neither of which was a popular success. I want to die in the saddle. He was the host of television game shows including The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes and Wipeout . 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