[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. 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]. [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]. 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 . "He's one of the bravest men I've met. He starred in Dentist in the Chair (1960) and Dentist on the Job (1961), later regretting not choosing the Carry Ons over the dental comedies. 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. It has been wonderful to hear the present day comics speak admiringly of this man. His two sons both died in tragic circumstances, Gary from cerebral palsy and Simon from a heroin overdose. I'd have paid good money to stay out of here. He had three children from his first marriage, but only his adopted daughter, Abigail, survived him. While the comedians career continued to soar, he often admitted that he felt he had no talent and was frustrated that many would only know him as a game show host. Theyre not laughing now.. Gary Wright, Bolton, England, One thing about Bob was that he made you laugh. Read more: Nick McGlashan death: Police reveal possibility of drug involvement. RIP to the Big Man.Sharon, Wales, I'm sad to hear of Bob's untimely death. The show lasted three series and showcased comedians of many generations. He was the host of television game shows including The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes and Wipeout. The next day I saw him sunbathing on Hayling Island beach alongside his enormous Pontiac car. You will be sadly missed by the British public. Monkhouse married his secretary Jackie in 1972. "He loved showbusiness and showbusiness was lucky to have him. Jump to content. A Man Already Greatly Missed. Monkhouse continued: The ones who think they're the sharpies from clubland. This talent was used in Bob Monkhouse On the Spot, a return to pure television comedy, in which audience members suggested topics and Monkhouse came up with a routine. Decca Record Company Limited, 1963. He was the host of television game shows including The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes and Wipeout . I nervously approached him and immediately could sense the warmth and sincerity of this man. He suffered very badly at times with it but he carried on. 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. Thanks for the memories Bob, your wit and devilment was a wonderful gift you shared with all. "I saw a specialist who asked me 'Are you familiar with the phrase faecal impaction?' Monkhouse died of prostate cancer in 2003. He died peacefully in his sleep after losing his two-and-a-half year battle against cancer, said Peter Prichard. Robert Alan Monkhouse OBE (1 June 1928 29 December 2003) was an English comedian, writer and actor. On Monkhouse's death, the books were bequeathed to Colin Edmonds. British comedian Bob Monkhouse, who wrote jokes for Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra in a 50-year showbusiness career, died on Monday aged 75, his manager said. Enter your password to log in. Today is the 17th anniversary of Bob Monkhouses death. His second marriage, to Jacqueline Harding, lasted until his death. [16] The archive consisted of 36,000 videotapes, going back to when Monkhouse first bought a home video recorder in 1966. He recalled: Two quite attractive women in Marie Antoinette-type outfits are coming through a field. [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 British entertainment world is mourning comedian Bob Monkhouse, who has died aged 75. 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 also received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy from the British Comedy Awards in 1995. Born in Beckenham, Kent, in June 1928, Monkhouse started out as a comedy writer and rose to become one of the country's top comics with a highly polished on-screen persona that people seemed to either love or hate. 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 . Bob Monkhouse passed away due to prostrate cancer. 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. During the confrontation, he allegedly held a cut-throat razor to the comedians face and told him: Im going to slit your eyeballs!. The Independent reported that many assumed he was hoarding porn after the bust but later it was revealed that wasnt the case. The couple separated in 1967[19] and divorced in 1972. When do the clocks change in 2023? She was his secretary and they married in 1973 after he split from first wife Elizabeth. Monkhouse escaped after he kneed Hamilton in the groin and ran away but later admitted that he spent nearly six years fearing repercussions. The Golden Shot,Family Fortunes,Opportunity Knocks, Bobs Full House, Celebrity SquaresandWipeout, he also acted and hosted on the radio. He asked me to go up on the stage & presented me with a beautiful basket of flowers and got everyone to sing happy birthday. A Bob Monkhouse impersonator is so good fans keep thinking the comedy legend is still alive. The Boys from Syracuse. In 1956, Monkhouse was the host of Do You Trust Your Wife?, the British version of an American game show. 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. His writing and performing was legendary. Part of my childhood has gone and I am very sad.Trev Edwards, Preston, Lancashire, For me, this was the saddest loss of the year. He died peacefully in his sleep after losing his two-and-a-half year battle against cancer, said his manager Peter Prichard. There will never be another like him. [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. Chris Barnett, Eastbourne, His appearance on television brought joy into my life for many years. 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. In the last programme Bob Monkhouse ever worked on before he died he picked all his favourite comedy clips from his lifetime. 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. Prostate cancer, I don't recommend. He was diagnosed with the condition in September 2001. He was 75. He died peacefully in his sleep after losing his two-and-a-half year battle against. His book 'Just say a few words' has been a very useful tool on many occasions. ", After vowing not to let illness halt his career, he said last year: "I've responded to treatment incredibly well. My best wishes go to his family & friends.Stephen, St Erth, Cornwall, One word.LEGEND!! His death has come to a very big shock to me and I will miss him very much. The controversial US oil plan explained, Watch: Moment teenager smashes into lorry during 100mph police chase. He gave me a guided tour of his car and let me take his photo alongside it. To his presentation and the obvious love he had for the genre. David Ismay, a friend of Monkhouse, said the family would not be releasing any details about Friday's service. 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). Monkhouse was the class clown at Dulwich College. A genius of one-liners, memory and timing! Moment fitness influencer asks man to move off park bench 'because he's 'ruining her livestream' - but Mortgage demand plummets to a 28-year low as average interest rates hit 6.71% - just as spring home buying Britain braces for brutal -9C Arctic snap: Met Office warns more snow and ice could lash the country next ISIS fanatic jailed over the gruesome beheading of two Scandinavian women hikers in Morocco that shocked the Shamima Begum and other British women who joined Islamic State and are being held in Syria will 'ultimately' Is YOUR wood burner at risk? Monkhouse was married twice, firstly to Elizabeth Thompson on 5 November 1949. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. He said: "The publicity shots I've done look pretty . "I'll never stop working," he once said. Monkhouse lived in a house called "Claridges" in Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, and had a flat in London and a holiday home in Barbados. 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. London Cast Recording. Chris Perry, of Kaleidoscope and Kaleidoscope Publishing, said: "We are painstakingly transferring the important contents of the video tapes and restoring radio shows. He was the guv'nor," said Mr Prichard. They were returned after 18 months,[10] but the thief, although arrested, was never charged. Not only has Bob died today, but a huge chunk of showbusiness has too. [7] From 1987 to 1989, he hosted three series of the revival of the talent show Opportunity Knocks, which aired as Bob Says Opportunity Knocks. He was appearing in south sea with Yana. The late comedian was among Britains top entertainers and is believed to have inspired contemporary funnymen including Jimmy Carr, Michael McIntyre and Peter Kay. Veteran British comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse has died at his Bedfordshire home aged 75. The widow of comedian Bob Monkhouse has died suddenly, it has emerged. 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. 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. Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Writing and acting success 3 Stand-up comedy 4 Game shows 5 Chat show Despite his fears about being forgotten, he was branded the unlikely hero of modern comedy in a 2015 Telegraph article because his style is reportedly seen in other comedians. 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. He was such a great comedian and was one of my all time favourites. 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 He was 75. He fell out with his parents over his marriage to first wife Elizabeth when he was 20, never making up with his father. 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. That's even more than my wife's cooking."). 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. His film archive began in the late 1950s. It's a little one-reeler, French, and made, I should think, sometime in the Twenties.. The comic also suffered a setback in his fight against illhealth when he broke a collarbone in a fall in October. God Bless You BOB! Aside from performing as a double act, Monkhouse and Goodwin wrote for comedians such as Arthur Askey, Jimmy Edwards, Ted Ray and Max Miller. He died peacefully in his sleep after a two-and-a-half year battle. 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. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. He also became a favourite with impressionists, and, as his comedy style fell out of favour in the 1980s, he was mocked[who?] [26][27] Money raised went to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.[28]. Other presenting jobs in the 1960s included Candid Camera and Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Bob was the greatest comic/entertainer/game show host this country has ever seen. He learned Yiddish to get Jewish function bookings and joined all three political parties to get their bookings. He was 75. He was 75. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. Mr Prichard described Monkhouse as "one of the finest men I've ever known. Veteran comedian Bob Monkhouse told of the devastating effect the death of his youngest son had on him. Despite being plagued by self-doubt, the late stars talent is best illustrated through his writing talent. Mr Prichard, who was Monkhouse's manager for 38 years, said: "Sadly, I . I had seen his show the previous evening and he was brilliant. In July 1995 two were stolen, and Monkhouse offered a 15,000 reward. I first caught sight of him in the morning as I was entering the hotel to book in with my party. Bob died peacefully in his sleep at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer.". 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