Already suffering from the cancer that went on to murder him,the great entertainer was kind and lovely all the same, and full of edifying adviceI was a massive Bob Monkhouse fan when I was growing up. I used to go and sit in the audience of various TV shows. One of them was Opportunity Knocks, and so I got to see the way Monkhouse worked close up. Some people only saw this slightly smarmy,American-style game-show host, but when you saw him performing live you realised that there was this whole other dimension to him. I didn’t know that much approximately stand-up comedy then, and but I was mesmerised.
Bob trained in the men’s clubs and holiday camps. In those days the TV scouts would find a talent and then look for a vehicle – like a quiz show – that would let them show their ability,but also contain longevity. Bob was brilliant at working the audience and he was always ready for any eventuality. If there was ever a gap in filming he’d be off straightaway, doing his act. But I believe his reputation probably suffered from him being on TV so much. Some people found him too slick, or too American – but I believe if you’re putting on a show you contain a duty to be as professional as possible. If you asked most comics,even the fresh ones, the majority would still look up to Bob and believe he was the daddy.
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Source: theguardian.com