Bob Monkhouse has died.

Say what you like, but I was always amused by Bob Monkhouse. He may not have been at the cutting edge of alternative comedy but he was always quite amusing when doing standup, very intelligent and a consummate professional. It’s a shame that he will probably be remembered more for his work on quiz shows than for his comedy though.

I remember hearing him on the Radio 4 show “In the psychiatrist’s chair”, being interviewed by Dr Anthony Clare and being surprised at the candid way he talked about his life and at how serious and dedicated he was about his career. A couple of years later, I saw him do one of those Q&A sessions at Oxford University which was hysterical. He was very sharp and very witty and I realised that there was a whole lot more to him than the quiz shows (including a memorable guest appearance in “Jonathan Creek”) that I remember from my childhood.

Rest in Peace.