In 1972, Monkhouse married Jacqueline, his secretary, who was at his bedside when he died. He asked me to go up on the stage & presented me with a beautiful basket of flowers and got everyone to sing happy birthday. Robert Alan Monkhouse OBE (1 June 1928 - 29 December 2003) was an English comedian, writer and actor. I'd have paid good money to stay out of here. Monkhouse was reported to have let out one of his staccato laughs as he explained the scene. Bless you, Bob.John, South Wales, Fifteen years ago I met Bob in person in a hotel in Stoke-on-Trent. Powerful Commons committee could look at case for banning stoves in towns and Love Island hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints from furious viewers over 'toxic femininity' row and Movie Carrie Johnson joins campaign for Joanna Simpson's killer BA pilot husband who bludgeoned her to death with Do not sell or share my personal information. It involved an implant in his stomach and a daily pill which allowed him to keep on working. for his slickness and accused of insincerity. Monkhouse leaves a daughter, Abigail. In July 1995 two were stolen, and Monkhouse offered a 15,000 reward. Monkhouse also appeared in 12 films including Carry On Sergeant. Will be sadly missed as a friend. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers JUST IN:The man with a million jokes: Bob Monkhouse's legacy examined. Monkhouse, who lives in a Tudor farmhouse in Bedfordshire, has also suffered encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. I once met Bob in 1959, when I was a young boy. Monkhouse said: Am I going to be nice? When he came on stage to entertain us the very first thing he said was that there was a lady in the audience who was celebrating her birthday today. He was often self-deprecating and admitted he was not an original comic genius. It has been wonderful to hear the present day comics speak admiringly of this man. Bob Monkhouse, born June 1 1928, died December 29 2003, Supremely accomplished stand-up comic and game show host, whose self-assured manner on screen masked a personal life dogged by loss and disappointment, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. ", After vowing not to let illness halt his career, he said last year: "I've responded to treatment incredibly well. 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. None of this was known to Monkhouse, who appeared genuinely frightened (but the production crew were aware). 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He had an encyclopaedic capacity for recalling gags and one liners and could play to many different audiences. Mr Prichard, of International Artists Ltd, said Monkhouse's wife Jackie called him shortly after 5am with the news that he had lost his battle with prostate cancer. He will never be forgotten.Luke Cumiskey, La Paz, Bolivia, In my early days of watching TV, I always thought of Bob Monkhouse as being a product of my parents' generation, harking back to the Musical Hall and old style cabaret days. [8], Before establishing himself as a successful writer and comedian, Monkhouse appeared on stage in London, first as Aladdin in a stage show of the same name written by S. J. Perelman and Cole Porter and then in the first London production of the musical The Boys from Syracuse (Antipholus of Syracuse) in 1963 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, alongside Ronnie Corbett. "I want to die in the saddle. The former Family Fortune host died at his home in the village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard. [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]. As an actor, his credits included Carry On Sergeant and Thunderbirds Are Go! Shine on. In the early 1970s he appeared on BBC Radio in Mostly Monkhouse with Josephine Tewson and David Jason. Browse Bob Monkhouse movies and TV shows available on Prime Video and begin streaming right away to . [citation needed]. In the 2010 ITV documentary The Unforgettable Bob Monkhouse, a friend explained that he often complained about there being a whole generation who dont know Im a comedian. 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. Prostate cancer, I don't recommend. Mike Hayes, Portsmouth, An inspiration to all comics. With Julia Sawalha, Lucille Ball, Michael Barrymore, Jackie Clune. I will miss him so much and feel very deeply for his family as I have just lost my mother to cancer. 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. 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. Bob Monkhouse died from prostate cancer in 2003 after a two-and-a-half-year battle (Image: GETTY) The Independent's Giles Smith commented that Monkhouse "told me this quite candidly" in a 1995. He is an example to us all.John Bartram, Margate, Sad news - especially at this time of year. His posthumous appearance involved computer animation and a voiceover from another actor. Veteran British comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse has died after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 75. When Bob Monkhouse's widow died and his house was being prepared for market, the amazing extent of his private collection of video and audio recordings was realized. A le g endary drinke r Monkhouse would consume two bottles of wine and half a bottle of whisky a day, including "a large one" before going on stage. 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 Two video cassettes of my cabaret act and a sea of game shows as valuable as yesterdays Daily Mirror.. When do the clocks change in 2023? Too ill to contribute the programme instead featured narration and contributions from fellow professionals. He hit the screens in the 1950s in the comedy show Fast And Loose and by 1960 was host of the British version of Candid Camera. Famed for his quick wit and ready oneliners, Monkhouse became one of Britain's highest-paid TV stars, and was awarded the OBE in 1993 for his services to showbusiness. 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). The London Gazette, 21 February 1958, p. 1258. 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. Monkhouse once said: "I'll never stop working. Monkhouse leaves a daughter, Abigail. I want to die in the saddle. Bob Monkhouse's Comedy Heroes: Directed by Willy Smax. applies equally to Bob Monkhouse. The couple spent much of their time at their second home in Barbados. "He was a total professional and one of the funniest men in the world," he said. Gabrielle Cohen, Edgware, UK, Having grown up with him on our screens for as long as we can rememberhe was a true "Star" in every sense of the word.John & Michaela Hadlow, Devon, He was so quick, so kind, so, so funny and just a lovely, lovely man. Our thoughts are particularly with his wife Jackie and daughter Abigail at this very sad time. Died December 29, 2003 (75) Add to list Awards 2 wins Photos Known for Dentist in the Chair 5.0 Writer 1960 Carry on Sergeant 6.3 Charlie Sage 1958 The Big Noise TV Series Writer 1964 6 eps Dentist on the Job 5.2 Writer 1961 Credits Edit Writer27 Actor32 Music Department1 Additional Crew1 Self135 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. Remarkably, he featured in an advert concerning prostate cancer over three years. He was also at the helm when infamously, on 30 November 1996, the lottery machine failed live on air, causing the draw to be delayed by 50 minutes until after that night's episode of Casualty aired. But those gentlemen aside there are quite a number of people who are difficult to get on with because they haven't cracked it.. Initially, we found half a dozen TV shows that we knew to be missing.". I wouldn't know what to do if I retired anyway.". We've lost one of the greatest comics England has ever produced.". He became much in demand as an after-dinner speaker and wrote a book about the subject, Just Say a Few Words (Lennard Publishing, 1988, 1999). The Golden Shot,Family Fortunes,Opportunity Knocks, Bobs Full House, Celebrity SquaresandWipeout, he also acted and hosted on the radio. 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 . A day is wasted for me if I haven't done something even mildly creative.". [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. And as well as fronting the likes of The Golden Shot,Family Fortunes,Opportunity Knocks, Bobs Full House, Celebrity SquaresandWipeout, he also acted and hosted on the radio. A great comedian and a superb 'ad-libber'. 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. Around 1969 he was a partner, with Malcolm Mitchell, in the Mitchell Monkhouse Agency. One more star has disappeared from the British theatres and TVs. [6][bettersourceneeded] While still at school, Monkhouse wrote for The Beano and The Dandy and drew for other comics including Hotspur, Wizard and Adventure. He was the ultimate pro.Chris Hughes, Wraysbury, Staines, Whatever people think of Bob Monkhouse, he was truly 'The Guvnor' a trooper, a real professional and to some of today's younger comedians, an icon. The star, one of the UK's best known entertainers, battled prostate and bone cancer for more than two years. Comic Simon Cartwright did a play as him years after his death and people thought it was the real deal. [10] His tenure ended with allegations, which he denied, that he had taken bribes to include branded goods on the programme as advertisements. The critics used to pan him as appearing insincere yet very few tried to meet him or get to know him. 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. In 1993 Monkhouse was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to entertainment. He went on to front Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes, Bob's Full House, Bob Says Opportunity Knocks and, more recently, the National Lottery Draw. B ob Monkhouse, the king of television comedy, died today after a long battle against cancer. His two sons both died in tragic circumstances - Gary from cerebral palsy and Simon from a heroin overdose. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Mr Prichard, who was Monkhouse's manager for 38 years, said: "Sadly, I have to announce the death of Bob Monkhouse OBE. Mrs. Valerie Darling, Kettering, Northamptonshire, Bob was consistently one of the funniest blokes around. [17], In 1995 the British Comedy Awards gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy, and eight years later, a few weeks before he died, the Television and Radio Industries Club awarded him a Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting. [23], Monkhouse was a vocal supporter of the Conservative Party for some years. 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. 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. The veteran comedian, whose showbusiness career spanned more than half a century, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2001. Read more: Nick McGlashan death: Police reveal possibility of drug involvement. His knowledge and skill in comedy were without parallel. After his film collection was returned, Monkhouse confessed that the suspicions werent completely unfounded as he did own one blue movie. A genius of one-liners, memory and timing! with the Hudson Brothers and Joan Rivers, a job he hated. Recorded in 2003 live on stage, interspersed with interviews with comedians and celebrities that were in the audience that night. If still alive today, Bob would now be 92! To his presentation and the obvious love he had for the genre. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. In 1993, Monkhouse, who lived in Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, was awarded the OBE. READ MORE: America's Got Talent star Scott Alexander dies after suffering sudden stroke. There will never be another like him. BBC director general Greg Dyke said: "Bob was a major entertainment figure for nearly half a century with both the BBC and ITV.". The great betrayal: How journalist Isabel Oakeshott leaked Matt Hancock's WhatsApps after they worked Covid gurus Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance warned that shielding wasn't 'very effective' at start of 'Appalled and sickened but not surprised at all': Fury of Covid families as WhatsApps 'show Matt Hancock Health ministers knew there was no evidence to justify making kids abide by rule of 6 - but No10 'didn't Britain's first child Covid death, 13, may have been contributed to by doctors as senior medic admits Rishi Sunak is urgently reviewing his private exchanges with Matt Hancock after bombshell leak of ex-Health 'Drinks cold in fridge at DH!' This wasnt the only difficulty to beset the comedian. Mr Prichard, who was Monkhouse's manager for 38 years, said: "Sadly, I have to announce the death of Bob Monkhouse OBE. In the last programme Bob Monkhouse ever worked on before he died he picked all his favourite comedy clips from his lifetime. He was 75. Monkhouse's TV shows included The Golden Shot - which at its peak had 16 million viewers - Opportunity Knocks and Bob's Full House. 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. ", Monkhouse, 74 at the time, added: "I can still enjoy sex at 74 - I live at 75, so it's no distance.". 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]. And at the same time, for five years from 1998, he also presented popular game show Wipeout. It's not just film and TV. I only 'discovered' his magic some 4 years ago but am so glad I did. He died peacefully in his sleep after a two-and-a-half year battle against prostate cancer, said Peter Prichard. He died peacefully in his sleep with his wife Jackie at his side, said his manager of 38 years, Peter Prichard. Alex Penn, Horsham, Sussex, It was a sad end to year for his family and friends, and an end to a era of one of the greatest comedians to have lived. Thanks for all the laughs, Bob xAngela Taylor, England, TV & the world of comedy will never be the same again.John Emley, Prestwick, Scotland, Usually when someone famous dies there is a dramatic outpouring of grief for someone most of us never knew - well in this case, I am truly saddened because Bob Monkhouse was a man who never failed to make me laugh - he was 'saucy' without being crude and he always put a smile on my face.Nichola, Dundee, There aren't many comedians that I went out of my way to watch and follow but Bob was the exception. 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. !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. He seemed to be a lesson to us all in how to keep smiling through adversity. Suddenly I was in fashion again and reaching new people. He would arrive at any function or cabaret with specially written, individual material for every occasion," said fellow entertainer Des O'Connor. Born in 1928, the young Monkhouse spent his spare time at home in Beckenham writing gags and drawing cartoons. His two sons both died in tragic circumstances - Gary from cerebral palsy and Simon from a heroin overdose. Hilary, Guildford, UK, Witty, funny and as sharp as a razor. The former Family Fortune host died at his home in the village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, during the night, he said. Alan Ball, Runaway Bay, Australia, I have grown up with Bob on my T.V screen, he was the king of game shows because of his razor sharp wit. But when did the TV star leave us? This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Mr Prichard said he was "choked" to deliver "the very, very sad news". 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]. Monkhouse died of prostate cancer in 2003. He always made you laugh and was such a professional. 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. Now I know how brave Bob Monkhouse was. She then presented a rocket launcher which she promptly 'fired', destroying a camera. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. I remember some of his shows vividly, and it's a shame that yet another member of the old school of comedy is now gone. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Monkhouse then returned to quizzes, taking over hosting duties on Wipeout from Paul Daniels when its studio recordings moved from London to Manchester and the show moved from primetime to daytime. 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. He always had so many original one line jokes! "I'm superficial. A Bob Monkhouse impersonator is so good fans keep thinking the comedy legend is still alive. 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. Veteran British comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse has died at his Bedfordshire home aged 75. A Man Already Greatly Missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his . 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. 29/12/2003 One of the country's best-loved comedians, Bob Monkhouse, has died today after a two-year battle with cancer. The comedian, entertainer and game show host was the king of light entertainment on BBC and ITV for many viewers. In 1956, Monkhouse was the host of Do You Trust Your Wife?, the British version of an American game show. 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. Audiences regularly topped 15 million. 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. She told him: Some people absolutely adore putting on a show, they come back to my parties just to do that.. I want to die in the saddle. He was 75. Last May he was deeply affected by the death of his son Simon from a. Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story. Yet, in 2007, he made a "comeback", appearing in a new TV campaign advertising a prostate cancer charity. Bob was also a Royal Variety Performance staple and hosted numerous chat shows with his name attached. Friends said she never fully recovered from Monkhouse's death from prostate cancer in 2003. Thank you for your tributes to Bob Monkhouse. Never short of a joke or quip. London Cast Recording. 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. It's a little one-reeler, French, and made, I should think, sometime in the Twenties.. Monkhouse was married twice, firstly to Elizabeth Thompson on 5 November 1949. I know no one else like him and will probably never find another. He was 75. It is only when you hear the likes of Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle and Rik Mayall talking, that you realise how influential Bob Monkhouse was on this new generation of comedians. A genuinely funny man has left us.Paul Curran, Lowestoft, A true gentleman, a true comedian, a true workaholic and now a legend. Despite his on-screen success, his life was dogged by personal tragedy. Monkhouse was the class clown at Dulwich College. His death has come to a very big shock to me and I will miss him very much. Brian L. Potter, CAMBRIDGE, England. And what other career highlights should you keep an eye out for on the programme? His eldest son, Gary Alan, who had cerebral palsy, lived at Naish farm house, a residential home for the disabled in Christchurch Road, New Milton, Hampshire. My best wishes to his wife and family.Chris Curry, Newport, South Wales, From the pasty young dentist alongside Leslie Phillips (in black & white) to the man with the tan and the wry grin with some 'News for You', Bob will be missed not only for his consummate professionalism, but more perhaps for his generosity in both giving of money, for which he was well known, and of his own time and effort, which went generally unsung. To bob monkhouse died smiling through adversity another actor village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, was with! For more than two years glad I did produced. `` on stage, interspersed with with... Was dogged by personal tragedy Bartram, Margate, sad news - especially at this of... Show, they come back to my parties just to do that glad I did was vocal!: some people absolutely adore putting on a show, they come to! British Empire for services to entertainment know him, UK, Witty, funny and as as! 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