I remember the early '80s and whenever his face came on the TV, people used to spit "Get that bastard off!".
But we seemed to warm to him. A diet of Bobby Davro, Cannon & Ball and - dare I say it - The Krankees certainly helped his cause.
There's only really dear Brucie left now. Wonder if I'll get him in next year's sweepstakes?
You shouldn't laugh though.
Course you should, it's what Bob would have wanted.
Don't you have to be funny to be a comedian? Telling a crap joke and then saying "Isn't Britain great ladies and gentlemen?" was fine in 1952 I suppose. Apart from that he was great. Did a lot of good work for charity & didn't like to mention it, and all that...
ps Why Bob Monkhouse and not Kenny Lynch?
Yes, RIP Bob.
Pop over to BBC.co.uk for a selection of his jokes.
Here's one he told at a Royal Variety last year:
'Quite a few of you have been kind enough to enquire about my health. I have had a few problems recently, but I'm feeling a lot better at the moment - and can I tell you, I'm still enjoying sex at 73 - which is handy 'cos I live at number 74.'
I like these:-
"My dad only hit me once - but he used a Volvo"
"When I die I want to go like my grandfather, peacefully in my sleep. Not swearing, shouting and screaming like his 52 passengers"
LMAO!!!
RIP Bob.
My favourite of his was: "When I told people I was going to be a comedian, they just laughed. Well - they're not laughing now!"
Another legend gone.