Comic legend Monkhouse dies

THE British entertainment industry was last night mourning the death of comic Bob Monkhouse after he lost his fight against cancer.

Tributes were paid to the 75-year-old veteran star, with showbiz pals labelling him an inspiration who would be sadly missed.

Friend and entertainer Max Bygraves praised the former game-show host for his "incredible mind," while comedy writer Barry Cryer described him as "a man for all seasons" who could "do anything."

Monkhouse died peacefully in his sleep during the night at his home in the village of Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, Beds, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with prostate cancer.

His manager Peter Prichard said he was "choked" to deliver "the very, very sad news."

He described the comic writer, stand-up comedian and actor as "one of the finest men I've ever known," adding: "We've lost one of the greatest comics England has ever produced."

Monkhouse leaves wife Jackie and a daughter, Abigail.

His sons both died in tragic circumstances Gary from cerebral palsy and Simon from a heroin overdose.

Monkhouse appeared in public in March at an awards ceremony where he joked about the cancer that was killing him. Although one of Britain's most respected comedians, best illustrated in 1994 when he fronted An Audience with Bob Monkhouse to his warmly appreciative peers, his life has been dogged by personal tragedy.

He had a life-long bust-up with his parents following his first marriage; his eldest son Gary who suffered from cerebral palsy died in 1992; he divorced his first wife and in April 2001; his 46-year-old son Simon died of a heroin overdose in Thailand after the pair had not spoken for 13 years.

Despite the tragedies, which saw him publicly rounded on by his ex-wife, Monkhouse was still regarded as a truly great British institution.

Born in Beckenham, Kent, on June 1 1928, Monkhouse attended Dulwich College where as a pupil he took his first steps as a comedian, writing and selling cartoons to comic weeklies.

At 12, he had his first cartoon published in Mickey Mouse Weekly and at 14 he was selling jokes to comics such as the immortal Max Miller.

At 18, Monkhouse formed a double act with Denis Goodwin, writing radio jokes for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. He made several guest appearances on television shows before he and Goodwin landed their own television series in 1953 with comedy sketch show, Fast and Loose.

This was followed by another series, My Pal Bob. Monkhouse diversified becoming a game-show host with For Love or Money and in 1960 hosted the British version of scam show Candid Camera.

Monkhouse was propelled to household fame in 1967 presenting ATV's The Golden Shot.

His slick style and ability to put nervous contestants at ease with his quick quips meant numerous other gameshow jobs followed including Family Fortunes; 64,000 Question; Bob's Full House and Bob Says Opportunity Knocks.

One of his most recent regular television slots was fronting the National Lottery Draw and quiz show Wipeout on BBC1.

But to categorise Monkhouse as just a gameshow host would be to do him a disservice.

He appeared in 12 films including the first Carry On film, Carry on Sergeant, in 1958.