Bob Monkhouse

Robert Alan Monkhouse (1 June 1928 - 29 December 2003) was an English comedian, television presenter, writer and actor. He was the host of television game shows including The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes and Wipeout. Born in Beckenham, Kent, he was educated at Dulwich College, from which he was expelled for climbing the clock tower. While still at school he wrote for The Beano and The Dandy, and he later formed a publishing company, Streamline, with schoolmate Denis Gifford.

Monkhouse began his adult career as a scriptwriter for radio comedy in partnership with Denis Goodwin, writing for comedians such as Arthur Askey, Jimmy Edwards, Ted Ray and Max Miller, and supplying jokes for American comedians including Bob Hope. In 1956 he hosted Do You Trust Your Wife?, going on to host more than 30 quiz shows on British television. He also appeared in comedy films, including the first of the Carry On series, Carry On Sergeant (1958).

A respected stand-up comedian known for his talent at ad-libbing, Monkhouse became much in demand as an after-dinner speaker and wrote a book on the subject, Just Say a Few Words. As his style fell out of favour in the 1980s he was mocked for his slickness, but an appearance on Have I Got News for You helped restore his popularity in the 1990s. His final stand-up show was performed at the Albany Comedy Club in London on 25 August 2003, four months before his death. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.