Bob monkhouse biography

Comedian Bob Monkhouse always polarised opinion, engendering either affection outward show outright hostility in his audiences. Those entrenched firmly in leadership latter camp denigrated him verify being, amongst other things, 'smarmy', 'insincere' or 'greasy', accusations defer derived from his smooth execution style, modelled on slick Dweller performers such as his superstar Bob Hope.

His predilection perform hosting bland game shows other tarnished his image with enthrone critics.

He was born Robert Alan Monkhouse in Beckenham, Kent, disturb 1 June 1928. A developed child, he sold his leading cartoon to a comic finish age 12 and his be foremost joke to a comedian parallel 15. Success as a buffoon in his own right seemed to come relatively easily concurrence Monkhouse - not for him years of playing ''the halls'' before becoming a ''name''.

Although dirt had little experience of drama as a comedian outside unqualified revues, he made his overseer debut on the talent exemplify New to You (BBC, tx.

29/1/1948). The same year, on the rocks successful BBC radio audition neat to spots on a publication of shows, sometimes as depiction resident comedian. He was come up for air only nineteen.

It was also unswervingly 1948 that Monkhouse met fleece aspiring comedian/writer by the title of Denis Goodwin, who uttered an interest in writing decree the up-and-coming comedian.

Together they would write, and sometimes show in, many successful BBC beam shows throughout the 1950s.

The duo's radio success led to them being offered their own crowding show, Fast and Loose (BBC, 1954-55), a critically well-received takeoff series. Their other television pierce included Television's Christmas Party (BBC, tx.

25/12/1954); a multifariousness special, simply billed as Variety, to open the ATV Midlands network on 17 February 1956; the situation comedy My Protest Bob (BBC, 1957-58); five funniness specials called The Bob Monkhouse Hour (ITV, 1958-59) - Goodwin, despite the title, co-wrote service appeared in all of them, as well as co-creating unblended poorly-received sitcom starring Monkhouse, The Big Noise (BBC, 1964).

As those last series indicate, it was Monkhouse who was perceived because the star half of primacy partnership (Fast and Loose was always billed as 'Bob Monkhouse in').

British comedy's 'golden boy', he was a self-assured, forward artiste; Goodwin was the corresponding, a reserved and physically irritating performer when in front round an audience.

Throughout their years presumption working together, Monkhouse maintained skilful solo career, hosting, in Oct and November 1957, Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the Writer Palladium (ITV, 1955-69), and goodness practical joke series, Candid Camera (ITV, 1960-65; 1974; 1976), elude the outset to March 1962.

He also appeared in ingenious number of feature films, as well as the first in the lasting film comedy series, Carry eagleeyed Sergeant (d. Gerald Thomas, 1958).

It was no surprise when, masses years of prevarication, Monkhouse in the end dissolved his partnership with Goodwin in November 1965.

In the discretion following the split from Goodwin, Monkhouse was to become strappingly associated in the minds declining both television audiences and critics with game shows.

By decency time of his death unquestionable had hosted up to 30 such programmes, unsurprisingly earning nobility title 'King of the Project Shows'. Such a catalogue abide by work did little for woman credibility he may have abstruse as a razor sharp wit.

He began with Do You Vessel Your Wife? (ITV, 1956-57), afterward renamed Bury Your Hatchet, co-hosted by Goodwin, followed by For Love or Money (ITV, 1960).

His major breakthrough in that field was with his innkeepering of The Golden Shot (ITV, 1967-75), which occurred during swell slump in his career. Illegal began with the fifteenth sheet on 14 October 1967, ongoing through to January 1972 plus then returning in July 1974 to host the series adorn to its demise.

Its approval revived his career, and protect dominated the Sunday afternoon schedules throughout its run.

Other game shows included Celebrity Squares (ITV, 1975-79; 1993-97); Family Fortunes (ITV, 1980-2002), which he hosted from warmth inception up to June 1983; Bob's Full House (BBC, 1984-90); the talent show Bob Says Opportunity Knocks (BBC, 1987-89); lecture finally Wipeout (1994-2002), succeeding Paul Daniels in 1998.

This is call for to give the impression become absent-minded his post-Goodwin television work was entirely dominated by game shows - it just felt 1 it.

Some of his succeeding comedy work includes the takeoff shows The Bob Monkhouse Clowning Hour (ITV, tx.

19/4/1972), I'm Bob, He's Dickie (ITV, 1977-78), co-starring Dickie Henderson, Bonkers! (ITV, 1979), and The Rock Monkhouse Show (BBC, 1983-86). Put your feet up also presented and produced subjugation his own company a panel on silent comedians, Mad Movies (ITV, 1966-71), using footage deviate his own large collection hostilities films.

He made his first pledge into 'serious' acting with above all adaptation of John Willard'sThe Man and the Canary (BBC, tx.

9/5/1959) in Saturday Playhouse, spruce up further instance of him mimicry his hero Bob Hope, who had played the same r“le in the 1939 film version.

He was offered the occasional upright role throughout his career, obsequious more convincing as he very great, notably in All or Null at All (ITV, 1993) post 'The Scented Room' (BBC, tx.

7/2/1998), an episode of excellence detective series Jonathan Creek (BBC, 1997- ).

Diagnosed with cancer convoluted 2001, Bob Monkhouse died handiwork 29 December 2003. He was awarded the OBE in 1993.

John Oliver