Robert Alan Monkhouse was born in Beckenham, Kent, England, 1 June 1928.
Attended Dulwich College. Married: 1) Elizabeth, 1949 (divorced 1972), children:
Abigail, Gary and Simon; 2) Jacqueline, 1973. Trained as a cartoon film animator
with Gaumont British; started performing as comedian while member of the Royal Air
Force, 1947-49; formed successful writing partnership with Denis Goodwin; became
BBC's first contract comedian, performing on the Work Wonders radio show, 1949;
starred in own radio show, 1949-83; starred in first television series, 1952;
built up reputation as major cabaret attraction worldwide; host and guest
performer on many BBC and ITV programs. Officer of the Order of the British Empire,
1993. Recipient: Top Comedian in Cabaret, 1981, 1987; After-Dinner Speaker of the
Year, 1989. Address: Peter Prichard, Mezzanine Floor, 235 Regent Street, London W1X 8AX, England.
Obituary
Robert Alan Monkhouse, one of Britain's best known comedians and game show
hosts, died on Dec. 29 from prostate cancer. He was 75. Monkhouse was the class
clown at Dulwich College. His parents hoped he would join the family's custard
business, but Bob and his friend Denis Goodwin had other plans. The duo became a
crack writing team, penning jokes for comedians like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and
Jerry Lewis. The partnership would last for more than 30 years, until Goodwin
committed suicide in 1975.
Monkhouse self-published his own comic strip and spent a brief time working as an
animator with the Walt Disney studios in London before doing his National Service
with the Royal Air Force. After returning to civilian life, he became a full-time
radio gag writer and stand-up comedian, appearing in revue with his close friend
and mentor Benny Hill before breaking into television.
For nearly half a century, Monkhouse entertained viewers of the BBC and ITV as the
host of popular TV game shows. He fronted more than 30 different programs, including
"Celebrity Squares," "The Golden Shot," "Family Fortunes," "The $64,000 Question"
and "Bob's Your Uncle."
Off-screen, Monkhouse performed in 150 cabaret and stand-up gigs each year.
In 1993, he published his autobiography, "Crying With Laughter," and was honored
with the Order of the British Empire. Last year, the Television and Radio Industries
Club gave him a lifetime achievement award.
Announcement of His Death from BBC
Comedian Bob Monkhouse dies
The British entertainment world is mourning comedian Bob Monkhouse, who has died aged 75.
The star, one of the UK's best known entertainers, battled prostate and bone
cancer for more than two years.
He died peacefully in his sleep with his wife Jackie at his side, said his manager
of 38 years, Peter Prichard.
"He was respected by all the other comedians because he was dedicated to his
craft - he never stopped making people laugh," Mr Prichard said.
Mr Prichard said Monkhouse was still working six weeks before his death,
despite being in a great deal of pain.
When I said I was going to become a comedian, they all laughed. Well, they're not
laughing now.
"He's one of the bravest men I've met. He suffered very badly at times with it
but he carried on.
"He was a total professional and one of the funniest men in the world," he said.
Speaking of his own sense of loss, Mr Prichard said: "I knew it was coming, but
when you get the news you realise we have lost one of the greatest comics that
England has ever produced."
In 1993, Monkhouse, who lived in Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, was awarded
the OBE.
In March this year, when accepting a lifetime achievement award from the
Television and Radio Industries Club, Monkhouse said he had been "very lucky"
with his treatment.
It involved an implant in his stomach and a daily pill which allowed him to
keep on working.
Monkhouse once said: "I'll never stop working. I want to die in the saddle.
A day is wasted for me if I haven't done something even mildly creative."
"Anyone who understood comedy loved Bob. He would arrive at any function or
cabaret with specially written, individual material for every occasion," said
fellow entertainer Des O'Connor.
"He loved showbusiness and showbusiness was lucky to have him. He was not only a
brilliant mind, but the warmest and most genuine of friends. One of the brightest
lights just went out on the Christmas tree," he said.
BBC director general Greg Dyke said Monkhouse understood TV entertainment better
than anyone else in the last four decades.
"Bob was a major entertainment figure for nearly half a century with both the
BBC and ITV," he said.
Born in Beckenham, south London, in June 1928, Monkhouse developed his talent
for comedy while a pupil at nearby Dulwich College.
He went on to enjoy a long career as a comedian and occasional straight actor.
But Monkhouse was probably best known as a host of popular TV game shows
including Celebrity Squares and Family Fortunes.
Monkhouse leaves a daughter, Abigail.
His two sons both died in tragic circumstances, Gary from cerebral palsy and
Simon from a heroin overdose.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3353445.stm
Bob's Amazing Quiz-Show Career
Bob Monkhouse: Quiz show king
Comedian Bob Monkhouse, who died on Monday, was one of the UK's most prolific TV
stars, appearing in numerous sitcoms and game shows over the last 50 years.
Fast and Loose
This was Monkhouse's first regular TV show, a live sketch show written with comedy
partner Denis Goodwin. Beginning in 1954, it starred the pair alongside other
comedy actors including June Whitfield, and ran for two series on the BBC.
My Pal Bob
Monkhouse played a character called Bob in this two-series sitcom, but the
domestic characters and scenarios were entirely fictional. Goodwin starred as
Bob's "friend, partner and chief victim" while Terence Alexander - star of The Day
of the Jackal - appeared as Terry, Bob's drunken neighbour. The show ran in 1957
and 1958.
Do You Trust Your Wife?
The first of Monkhouse's many quiz shows, Monkhouse said he had a comfortable run
with this show in the 1950s. It was a version of a US game show hosted by Johnny
Carson where he would ask contestants: "Would you like to answer this one yourself,
or do you trust your wife to answer it?"
Candid Camera
The UK version of this hit US show was hosted by Monkhouse for several years in
the early 1960s. It was the daddy of reality TV, using a hidden camera to watch
elaborate practical jokes be played on members of the public.
The Golden Shot
Monkhouse became a household name with The Golden Shot, a game show that started
in 1967 and ran until 1975. With the catchphrase "Bernie, the bolt!", Monkhouse
wisecracked as viewers guided a blindfolded archer by telephone to fire a "telebow"
- or a crossbow with a camera attached - into a target to win prizes. One clergyman
who criticised the show for being unsafe was invited to the studio - and hit by a
bow that ricocheted off the studio lights.
Celebrity Squares
After the demise of The Golden Shot, ITV executives adapted US hit Hollywood
Squares for Monkhouse, and renamed it Celebrity Squares. It featured nine
celebrities in a grid, who had to answer questions to help contestants win prizes
in TV take on noughts and crosses. It ran from 1975-79, and was revived from
1993-94, with Monkhouse again at the helm.
Family Fortunes
Monkhouse became the first host of long-running game show Family Fortunes when the
1970s run of Celebrity Squares ended. The show saw families guess what the general
public would have said in response to a particular question. One question posed
was: "Name something a vampire might be afraid of". The answer from the contestant
came: "Bob Monkhouse." Monkhouse was succeeded by Max Bygraves and later Les
Dennis.
Bob's Full House
On BBC screens from 1984-87, this was a souped up version of TV bingo, with four
contestants hoping to get a full house by answering questions - and always trying
to avoid being "wallied" when they got one wrong.
Bob's Your Uncle
This energetic early 1990s ITV game show played on the marital harmony of
newlyweds, who had to sail around in sinking boats and run around the studio for
rounds like Sea of Matrimony and Run for Fun. The Golden Shot's crossbow was
revived for the final round, after which fireworks would explode if they shot the
arrow through the target, a heart.
The $64,000 Question
Another early 1990s ITV show, this was a forerunner of Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire?, with contestants answering questions and their cash prizes doubling
each time - from £1 up to £6,400.
Wipeout
By the late 1990s, Monkhouse replaced magician Paul Daniels as host of daytime BBC
quiz Wipeout, another general knowledge-based quiz where contestants had to work
out which were the correct answers and which the red herrings from a grid of 16
names.
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