Always charming and self effacing, he never had a bad word to say about any of his colleagues and, unlike some, never ridiculed his public. RIP to the Big Man.Sharon, Wales, I'm sad to hear of Bob's untimely death. Further scandal emerged in Monkhouses later years when he published his autobiography Crying With Laughter in 1993. In Jimmy Carrs 2006 book The Naked Jape, he cited some of Monkhouses jokes. A great comedian and a superb 'ad-libber'. More info. RIP sir.Tony Wallace, Nottingham, As a professional musician, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Bob on several occasions. The governor has left us with legacy of comic treasures. 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. Thank you for your tributes to Bob Monkhouse. Monkhouse was allegedly lured into a bedroom by a very attractive and comely young dancer, according to a 2014 Flashbak article. Although I have been away from the UK for some years, thinking about Bob Monkhouse always helped me to connect to the old country and its unique humour. The comic also suffered a setback in his fight against illhealth when he broke a collarbone in a fall in October. Rob Hall, Manchester, He always gave fantastically crisp and sharp responses on any topic. God bless you Bob and thanks for the memories. The gun, launcher and camera were props. Veteran British comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse has died at his Bedfordshire home aged 75. The entire Monkhouse film and television archive is now held by Kaleidoscope, including all the material previously held by the National Film and Television Archive (NFTVA). Mr Monkhouse had a long and successful career in showbusiness and had hosted hundreds of television shows. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Craig, Czech Republic (formerly UK), I'm shocked to hear of Bob's death. He has been a comedy presence all my life and will be missed. [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. In the last programme Bob Monkhouse ever worked on before he died he picked all his favourite comedy clips from his lifetime. The British entertainment world is mourning comedian Bob Monkhouse, who has died aged 75. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family.Ian Peter, Southport, England, A Great Man He fell out with his parents over his marriage to first wife Elizabeth when he was 20, never making up with his father. 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. Today is the 17th anniversary of Bob Monkhouses death. His manager, Peter Prichard, said the entertainer died peacefully at his Bedfordshire home on Monday morning. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. A genuinely funny man has left us.Paul Curran, Lowestoft, A true gentleman, a true comedian, a true workaholic and now a legend. "I want to die in the saddle. Thanks Bob, for years of quick-fire laughs.Stu, France, The ultimate hard working entertainer, who brought joy and laughter to all those who loved his quick fire humour. The veteran comedian, whose showbusiness career spanned more than half a century, was. [7] He established a comics writing and art partnership with Dulwich schoolmate Denis Gifford and the two formed their own publishing company, Streamline, in the early 1950s. The star, who died from prostate cancer aged 75 in 2003, is to appear in a campaign about the disease that killed him.The ad-makers have taken archive footag. He will be greatly missed. His other son, Simon, a stand-up poet, from whom he had been estranged for 13 years, died aged 46 from a heroin overdose in a hotel in northern Thailand in April 2001.[4][20]. LK 4564. Bob Monkhouse, the comedian who died yesterday aged 75, became synonymous with television game shows, playing the unctuous host to more than 30 different programmes that, like him . But Monkhouse was probably best known as a host of popular TV game shows including Celebrity Squares and Family Fortunes. I only 'discovered' his magic some 4 years ago but am so glad I did. Friends said she never fully recovered from Monkhouse's death from prostate cancer in 2003. I guess what really sums up Bob for me was that despite some of the crude and crass humour that exists on today's television, Bob never sunk to that level to get a laugh, he was the consummate professional, and was a "Family" entertainer which in today's world of comedy is a rare treasure. He had an encyclopaedic capacity for recalling gags and one liners and could play to many different audiences. He was 75. 1953. If still alive today, Bob would now be 92! In the 1980's it was "uncool" to like Bob Monkhouse because of the Alternative Comics appearing on the circuit. Chris Barnett, Eastbourne, His appearance on television brought joy into my life for many years. He died peacefully in his sleep after losing his two-and-a-half year battle against cancer, said Peter Prichard. Robert Alan Monkhouse, one of Britain's best known comedians and game show hosts, died on Dec. 29 from prostate cancer. His manager of 38 years, Peter Prichard OBE, said: "Everybody is grieving. A day is wasted for me if I haven't done something even mildly creative.". Monkhouse was said to have been furious by the discovery and stormed out, only to be confronted by Ms Dors. Born in 1928, the young Monkhouse spent his spare time at home in Beckenham writing gags and drawing cartoons. "All I have is a perky mind," he said. We've lost one of the greatest comics England has ever produced.". Within its pages, he detailed that he had taken part in an orgy and had an affair with the actress Diana Dors, who was considered the British Marilyn Monroe. Bob Monkhouse was one of the most treasured personalities on British TV for decades. Bob Monkhouse. Bob Monkhouse: The Last Stand: Directed by Mark Lucey. "I'm superficial. Yet, in 2007, he made a "comeback", appearing in a new TV campaign advertising a prostate cancer charity. He was so jovial & kind to me. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. I'd have paid good money to stay out of here. Jump to content. [4] His public profile growing, Monkhouse also began appearing in comedy films, including the first of the Carry On film series, Carry On Sergeant, in 1958. Bob Monkhouse Supremely accomplished stand-up comic and game show host, whose self-assured manner on screen masked a personal life dogged by loss and disappointment Dennis Barker Mon 29 Dec 2003. I had the chance to see him in concert in the early '90s and it was only then that I realised exactly how funny this man was. British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, "Trace your Family Tree Online Genealogy & Ancestry from Findmypast findmypast.com", "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", "King Arthur, Attila the Hun and BobMonkhouse", "Bob Monkhouse A much-loved comedian and television personality who could also inspire harsh criticism", "BBC fooled into giving Bob his big break", https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30127387.html, "Modern comedy's unlikely hero: Bob Monkhouse", "Winning Entry in CBS Outdoor 'Underground Writer' competition 2008", "CBS Outdoor announces The Communications Agency as "The Next Great Underground Writers", A review of Dying On Stage, a stage play loosely based on Bob Monkhouse's life and career, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Monkhouse&oldid=1136446727, Freemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England, Officers of the Order of the British Empire, People from Central Bedfordshire District, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles lacking reliable references from September 2018, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from December 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 10:01. He died peacefully in his sleep after losing his two-and-a-half year battle against cancer, said Peter Prichard. His manager, Peter Prichard, said the entertainer died peacefully at his. John Walker, Walsall, England, He was a very good comedian but I think Bob Monkhouse will be best remembered for his work as a TV presenter I'm only old enough to remember the repeats of Bob's Full House onwards, and from there shows like The $64,000 Question, the updated version of Celebrity Squares, the National Lottery and of course, Wipeout. My recovery has been dramatic and I'm ready to go back to work.". Bob was the greatest comic/entertainer/game show host this country has ever seen. The Golden Shot,Family Fortunes,Opportunity Knocks, Bobs Full House, Celebrity SquaresandWipeout, he also acted and hosted on the radio. I wouldn't know what to do if I retired anyway.". This I have treasured for 45 years. Monkhouse continued: The ones who think they're the sharpies from clubland. 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. 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. This was broadcast live for 52 weeks a year and drew up to 17 million viewers. Read more: Gemma Arterton in Black Narcissus: Bond girls raunchiest roles as nun drama gets sexy. 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 . BBC director general Greg Dyke said: "Bob was a major entertainment figure for nearly half a century with both the BBC and ITV.". To his presentation and the obvious love he had for the genre. Enter your password to log in. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Bob was one of the few men that could make me cringe, get me mad, cry (with laughter) and have me laughing until it hurts. The comedian, entertainer and game show host was the king of light entertainment on BBC and ITV for many viewers. Theyre not laughing now.. He died peacefully in his sleep with his wife Jackie at his side, said his manager of 38 years, Peter Prichard. What are some of his most memorable career moments? 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. Am I going to be nasty? I'm 33 and he's one of the first faces I can remember seeing on the TV as a child. Too ill to contribute the programme instead featured narration and contributions from fellow professionals. The show featured clips from comic silent films, many from his own private collection, some of which he had helped to recover and restore. [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. And at the same time, for five years from 1998, he also presented popular game show Wipeout. This wasnt the only difficulty to beset the comedian. Mr Prichard said he was "choked" to deliver "the very, very sad news". Bob: Great Comedian Great mind, great man. Bob Monkhouse was educated at Goring Hall School in Worthing, Sussex, and Dulwich College in south London, from which he was expelled for climbing the clock tower. His death has come to a very big shock to me and I will miss him very much. Monkhouse hosted Wipeout from 1998 until a few months before his death in 2003. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Bob Monkhouse. The show lasted three series and showcased comedians of many generations. Express. A day is wasted for me if I haven't done something even mildly creative.". And during the later years of his career when most performers slow down that was pretty much the case due to his regular National Lottery hosting job. That's even more than my wife's cooking."). "I'll never stop working," he once said. Bob was as sharp as any comedian 50 years his junior. Brian Wickings, Worthing, England, I have grown up watching Bob Monkhouse, and he will be sorely missed, he was a legend in his own right and although I may only be 23 myself, my friends and I agree that this comedy genius will be remembered and praised for years to come such as the likes of Bob Hope and Morecambe and Wise. After his death, tributes were paid by many figures in the world of entertainment. Whats it worth to you?. She told him: Some people absolutely adore putting on a show, they come back to my parties just to do that.. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. In July 1995 two were stolen, and Monkhouse offered a 15,000 reward. The former Family Fortunes host died in his sleep in the early hours at home in the village of Eggington, Bedfordshire, where he lived with his second wife Jackie. Sergeant Bob Monkhouse died on a patrol that was providing security to enable new roads and security bases to be constructed to the north east of Gereshk. The show also included a rare public appearance from Monkhouse's friend Mike Yarwood. An expert on the history of silent cinema and a film collector, Monkhouse presented Mad Movies in 1966. [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]. Monkhouse married his secretary Jackie in 1972. Despite being plagued by self-doubt, the late stars talent is best illustrated through his writing talent. In 1993, Monkhouse, who lived in Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, was awarded the OBE. He only got back on terms with his mother after 20 years, shortly before she died. He won a contract with the BBC after his unwitting RAF group captain signed a letter that Monkhouse had written telling the BBC he was a war hero and that the corporation should give him an audition. 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. DON'T MISSBob Monkhouse: The comedy uncle[INTERVIEW]Why comedy fans love a one-liner[ANALYSIS]Cache in the attic: Bob Monkhouse hid 50,000 comedy videos in his loft[NEWS]. 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Monkhouse later became a game show host, fronting programmes including Family Fortunes, Bob's Full House and Bob Says Opportunity Knocks. He worked a punishing schedule. Bob Monkhouse dies King of Comedy loses battle with cancer (December 2003) This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive Previous . My thoughts are with his family and friends.Dominic Hill, Burnham, It was with great sadness I read of the death of Bob Monkhouse. He was diagnosed with the condition in September 2001. with the Hudson Brothers and Joan Rivers, a job he hated. I once met Bob in 1959, when I was a young boy. Chris Hankins, Pontypool, Gwent, S. Wales, What a sad loss. [16] The archive consisted of 36,000 videotapes, going back to when Monkhouse first bought a home video recorder in 1966. Bob was given an OBE for services to entertainment in 1993. After national service in the RAF, he conned his way into the BBC - by duping an Army psychiatrist into signing a letter requesting an audition, on the grounds that it would be the only cure for Corporal Monkhouse's delusional psychosis. [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. He died peacefully in his sleep after a two-and-a-half year battle. 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. [21] His lovers before his second marriage included the actress Diana Dors, about whose parties he later commented after her death: "The awkward part about an orgy is that afterwards you're not too sure who to thank. His loss is like losing a beloved family member. Monkhouse died aged 75 after being one of Britain's top comedians for more than four decades. Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story. And she goes to pluck the mushroom and continues plucking it for about five minutes.". How do I choose my approach?". In 1995, he poked fun at his legacy when he told the Independent: What will I leave behind me? And what other career highlights should you keep an eye out for on the programme? In his autobiography, he admitted to hundreds of sexual liaisons and affairs, but claimed that he only undertook this course of action because his first wife was unfaithful. Gary Wright, Bolton, England, One thing about Bob was that he made you laugh. The former Family Fortune host died at his home in the village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, during the night, he said. Monkhouse died of prostate cancer in 2003. Monkhouse considered himself lucky when he reflected on his near-five decades in show business. Monkhouse escaped after he kneed Hamilton in the groin and ran away but later admitted that he spent nearly six years fearing repercussions. His film archive began in the late 1950s. He explained that he found it difficult to know how to react to their jibes without seeming pompous because he had been around for so long. Was allegedly lured into a bedroom by a very attractive and comely young dancer, according a... Later years when he published his autobiography Crying with Laughter in 1993, presented. He died peacefully in his sleep with his mother after 20 years Peter. In Monkhouses later years when he broke a collarbone in a fall in October plagued self-doubt... Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, would... Opportunity Knocks ITV for many viewers featured narration and contributions from fellow professionals of 36,000,. 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