Bob Monkhouse was one of British television’s most prolific performers, indelibly etched on the minds of the public as the smooth, wise-cracking host of countless game shows. Initially a stand-up comic, Monkhouse’s early years were spent writing gags for himself and other performers. He made a number of guest appearances on TV shows before he and then writing partner Denis Goodwin finally landed their own television series in 1953 with Fast and Loose, a comedy sketch show. With the arrival of Britain’s commercial channel in 1955, Monkhouse was able to diversify. He and coproducer Jonathan Routh fooled members of the public with various scams in the British version of Candid Camera.

Always a fan of the great silent comedians, Monkhouse paid tribute to some of the men who had inspired him in 1966 with Mad Movies. He also continued a punishing schedule of nightclub appearances, before becoming a host of ATV’s Sunday night variety show, The London Palladium Show, in 1967.

However, it was not until late 1967 that Monkhouse became associated with ATV’s The Golden Shot, the series that made him a truly household name. Initially presented by Canadian Jackie Rae, this game show featured members of the audience who, to win prizes, guided, via the telephone, a blindfolded marksman to fire a crossbow into a target. In later stages of the game, the audience members were firing the crossbows themselves. From the start, Monkhouse was determined that he should be the presenter, and he even went to the expense of having a telerecording made of the episode in which he made a guest appearance so that Lew Grade, head of ATV, could see how Monkhouse could rescue what was then a fading show. Monkhouse also instigated the show’s catchphrase, used when asking the studio hand to load the bolt: “Bernie, the bolt.”

Monkhouse did indeed rescue the program, not only enlivening it with his wise-cracking comedy but also changing the format, simplifying it, and making it more visually appealing and exciting. Thus began a career as a host of game and quiz shows. In 1975 ATV adapted the American program Hollywood Squares, which was hosted by Monkhouse as Celebrity Squares. Once again, he was the fast-talking, ad-libbing host par excellence. He hosted numerous game shows, including Family Fortunes, $64,000 Question, Bob’s Full House, Bob Says Opportunity Knocks, and Wipe Out. However, while thoroughly professional and able to put contestants at their ease, Monkhouse had a reputation for being smarmy and often played on this aspect of his persona.

In 1993 Monkhouse diversified into straight drama with a role in Yorkshire Television’s All or Nothing at All, which also starred comedian Hugh Laurie. It was a proficient performance. In 2000 he lent his voice to the lead character in the animated series Aaagh! It’s the Mr. Hell Show. A darkly comic cartoon, this program has aired in the United States and Canada as well as in the United Kingdom.

Throughout his television career, Monkhouse continued his stand-up comedy act in nightclubs across England, and in recent years he had something of a renaissance and made a comeback as a TV comic, having been “rediscovered” by a younger generation of comics along with the likes of Ken Dodd and the late Frankie Howerd. He is probably deserving of “cult” status. The culmination of his return to comic form was the 1995–96 series Bob Monkhouse on the Spot, scheduled late Saturday evening on the mainstream British Broadcasting Corporation network BBC 1 and billed as a version of his cabaret act. This was a raunchier and racier Monkhouse than the TV public was used to seeing, and because the programs were recorded close to transmission, they were filled with topical gags.

Monkhouse’s television career spanned half a century, and he generally received top billing in his TV ventures. Monkhouse passed away on December 29, 2003.