BOB MONKHOUSEBob Monkhouse, who died on 29 December, 2003, at the age of 75, was one of Britain’s most recognisable television personalities.
Mr Monkhouse presented more than 30 game shows in an illustrious 50-year career, which also involved scriptwriting, drawing and writing for comic books, editing his own publications and appearances in 12 films including the very first Carry On film, Carry on Sergeant.
A lover of all things showbiz, Mr Monkhouse was also an expert in silent cinema and is credited with having preserved the only known copies of countless silent films.
Robert Allen Monkhouse was born at Beckenham in south London on 1 June 1928, and his parents hoped he would work in the family custard business, the firm Monk and Glass.
Mr Monkhouse had other ideas for his future though and from an early age had begun selling cartoons and jokes at Dulwich College public school, where he met another comedy hopeful, Denis Goodwin.
Together the pair began writing for comics such as the "Beano" and "Dandy", before writing material for comedians such as Max Miller and Arthur Askey, and later in life for Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, but this initially ended when he was called up for national service into the RAF.
On leaving the military in 1948 he married his first wife, Elizabeth, with his mother attending the ceremony in mourning black due to her dissatisfaction at both his marriage and his decision to forge a career in show business. She then refused to speak to him for 17 years,as didhis father.
His big break arrived when he was performing in South Africa, with word arriving that he was to be offered a contract to work for a week at the London Palladium, an agreement that went on to last for over six months.
This led to his break into television after he teamed up with Denis Goodwin again, and he became one of the first comedians to be given a contract by the BBC, with his TV debut coming in the game show "Why" in 1952, before then appearing in the comedy show "Fast and Loose" two years later.
His skill as a host was soon apparent, paving the way for a succession of game show presenting roles that included "Bob's Full House", "Celebrity Squares", "Bob's Your Uncle", "The 65,000 Dollar Question" and "Bob Says Opportunity Knocks" to name a few.
Happiest when he was working, Mr Monkhouse did not let age or ill health slow him down, with his career receiving a shot in the arm after he was awarded an OBE in 1993, resulting in appearances in programmes such as "Have I Got News for You", as well as a straight role in "Jonathan Creek".
In 1995 the theft of two folders in which he had stored notes on sketches and one-liners throughout his career led to a heartfelt plea for their return, and coupled with a £10,000 reward the treasured material was reunited with Mr Monkhouse a year later.
Despite his popularity - his game shows regularly commanded audiences of between 15 and 20 million - Mr Monkhouse was always regarded by some as smarmy and insincere, represented perfectly in the 1970s when a national newspaper conducted a poll to discover the most loved and hated television performers of the day, with Monkhouse appearing as both the third most loved and the top most hated figure.
After he was diagnosed with prostate and bone cancer in 2001 he received an implant in his stomach and took medication daily to allow him to keep working, continuing to write up to six weeks before his death from the disease.
Memorably, he was 'brought back from the dead' to raise awareness of prostate cancer. In June 2007, he appeared posthumously in a British TV advert, talking about the disease in a graveyard next to his own gravestone. The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation campaign used computer wizardry to create the ad.
Always aware of his place within British popular culture, Mr Monkhouse will be remembered for his comedy talent and his love-hate relationship with the public, summed up perfectly by one of his most famous gags: "When I said I was going to become a comedian," he once quipped, "they all laughed. Well, they're not laughing now, are they?"
He was survived by his second wife Jackie and daughter Abigail. He had two sons who died before him.
Keep me informed of updates
