Les Dennis - Biography - IMDb Les Dennis Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (3) | Trivia (10) Overview (3) 5' 9" (1.75 m) Mini Bio (1) Les Dennis was born on October 12, 1954 in Liverpool, England as Leslie Dennis Heseltine. He is an actor, known for Coronation Street (1960), Intimate Relations (1996) and The Laughter Show (1984). He has been married to Claire Nicholson since November 23, 2009. They have one child. He was previously married to Amanda Holden and Lynne Heseltine. Spouse (3) (? - 1990) (divorced) (1 child) Trivia (10) He is the third regular presenter of Family Fortunes (1980) after Bob Monkhouse and the second longest host since Bob Monkhouse . The last two presenters were Bob Monkhouse and Max Bygraves . He entertained with Bobby Davro on An Audience with Cliff Richard (1999).

In May 2000, he split up with his wife Amanda Holden after seeing her spending the vacation with Neil Morrissey in a newspaper. However, after a while, they went back together, but just to see if it can work out between them, too. Was part of a comedy due with the late Dustin Gee He announced in December 2002 that his marriage to actress Amanda Holden had ended after seven years. Speculation had been rife in the UK media that the couple's relationship was in difficulty, following Holden's failure to greet him on his eviction from the Celebrity Big Brother (2001) house. He was a guest call taker for the phone lines of the donations to The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday: Live (2006). His fiancée Claire Nicholson gave birth to their first child together, daughter Eleanor Grace Heseltine on April 24th 2008 in London. She weighed 8 lbs, 11 oz. Played "Mr. Owen", a man overcoming cancer in the 2009 short film Waiting in Rhyme (2009). ITV News called the film a 15 minute masterpiece.

31st January Is the MC (Master of Ceremonies) at the Ultra Blaze Scifi convention (Ipswich, England) [January 2009] [Stage 2011] Les Dennis once again came forward to support UK cancer charities by appearing in the uplifting stage show Survive! A Davey/Price Production at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, the cast included Hannah Waterman, Sarah Manners, Jean Boht, Guy Henry, Emma Stephens, Vicky Hall and The West End Gospel Choir.

See also Family Fortunes - UKGameshows Family Fortunes Vernon Kay (All Star Family Fortunes, 2006-present) Co-hosts Peter Dickson (2nd time, 2005 special) Lisa I'Anson (2006) Peter Dickson (3rd time, 2007-present) Broadcast ATV for ITV, 6 January 1980 to 4 September 1982 (81 episodes in 3 series) Central for ITV, 31 December 1982 to 18 June 1999 (329 episodes in 15 series) Carlton for ITV, 25 September 1999 to 30 December 2004 (130 episodes in 4 series + 14 unaired) Granada and Thames for ITV1, 29 October 2005 ( Gameshow Marathon one-off) All Star Family Fortunes Carlton for ITV, 1 June to 6 July 2001 (6 episodes in 1 series) TalkbackThames for ITV1, 28 October 2006 to 25 December 201

1 (74 episodes in 6 series) Thames for ITV1, 11 February 2012 to present Synopsis Take two families, a large game board which looked like it was brought from a dodgy salesman at a bargain price, a host who could do an impression of Mavis from Coronation Street and questions supplied by the public in specially commissioned surveys.

Max Bygraves, host of the second incarnation. Then sit back and watch the 'fun' in the peak years of what was one of television's highest rated and longest running game shows, Family Fortunes. Third host Les Dennis with Mr.Babbage As Paul Merton said in Have I Got News for You - "they'll get asked to name something with a motor in it and they'll say something like... 'a cat' " and it was so true! 100 people were polled on a innocuous question such as Name something you do in bed, and a person from each family hit a buzzer and guessed as to what the public might have said. The buzz-off for control of the board If it wasn't the top answer then the opposing team were allowed to guess. Whoever had the most popular answer got to take the question for their team (they could pass it if they wanted, but that was a rare occurrence). The rest of the family then took it in turns to guess answers until they got three incorrect guesses (as represented by a cross and a UH-UHHHHH! sound). The game board If the opposing team then guessed an answer not yet found they won the money (a pound for every person that replied to that answer).

If not, any found money went to the first team. After the break they played for Double Money. You're probably intelligent enough to guess what happened there. The set as seen in 1999 The family who first made £300 went through to the final round where the excitement peaked (apparently) when the family with the most points selected two members of the family to play a fast money game against the clock- yes, it was time for Biiiig Money! (At least, Max Bygraves enjoyed whipping it up in that way, but the other hosts didn't tend to make such a big deal of it, except for reminding the contestants of the money - and possibly car or holiday - they could win). A contestant plays the end game It was a nice gentle show with a lot of humour in it, and there was some evolution of the format near the end - particularly the chance to win a car (and later a holiday) if you found all five top answers in the end game. But as the millennium approached we thought couldn't ITV be a bit braver and try something new for a change instead of cranking out yet another series? Come in number 5, your time is up.

Then, in 2002, the show moved to daytime. Les Dennis left, knowing that this was going to be the final nail in the coffin for the show, and the oh-so-famous Andy Collins became the new host. Ratings were unspectacular, and one of ITV's longest running institutions disappeared with a whimper at the end of the year. Fourth host Andy Collins . Whatever happened to him? All Star Family Fortunes After a successful run out as part of Antandec's Gameshow Marathon , 2006 saw celebrity editions with stars playing with their real-life less glamourous relatives. The changes to the game were subtle but noticeable: Mr Babbage had been given a large shot of Technicolor Botox; the new title sequence is as camp as you like; there's a special reveal for announcing the top answer in Big Money; the game now ends after four rounds (two Single Money, two Double Money) regardless of the scores. Vernon Kay is affable if too shouty as a host. There's a lot to commend this fresh remake but some polishing would not go amiss either. Key moments The famous UK Game Show Page cockups list!

A fairly comprehensive list of the hilarious wrong answers produced by some contestants over the years can be found here! Many were featured on two programmes entitled 'Family Misfortunes', in which Les Dennis showed footage of these answers and spoke to some of the families involved, who were in the audience. Bob Monkhouse and the rather aptly named 'Thicke Family' in 1980: (GAME BEGINS) Family Member 1 (Liam): "Sky" Bob: "Top answer!, play or pass?" Family Member 2 (Liam's Mother): We'll play! Bob: "Name something blue..." Family Member 2: "We've already answered that one!" (PAUSE) Bob explains the rules of the game. Bob: "Name something blue..." Family Member 2: "My cardigan" Bob: (looking gobsmacked) "Let's see if it's up there!" (UH UHH!) Les's catchphrase of "if it's up there, I'll give you the money meself" backfired on at least two memorable occasions. One of the questions was "Name a way of toasting someone"; the contestant buzzed in with the answer "over a fire"!

Cue huge laughs from the audience and Les making his promise... only to find that it was the 6th most popular answer and 12 people had said it - yes, the people surveyed could quite often come up with answers just as bizarre as the contestants did! Once Les had shouted "Oh no!" he looked at the board, shook hands with the contestant and laughed his way through the words "I owe you twelve pounds!". The woman in question appeared in the audience of the retrospective show Family Misfortunes where Les asked her to confirm that he wrote her a cheque for £12 after the recording. She confirmed that Les had indeed done this...but then admitted to losing the cheque a few days later! The second occasion involved a contestant who had faced the question, "Name something that a dog can do that you wish you could?" and she came out with, "Wee in the street". Les once again promised to give her the money himself if it was there - and it was the 4th most popular answer (or "Wee in public", to be more precise). On this occasion, Les claimed that he was like the Queen - he never carried money - so he'd pay up after the show.

In the Bygraves years, one man (the late Bob Johnson) managed to answer "turkey" for the first three answers in the end game, running out of time before he answered the last two. Certainly, eyebrows were raised when he answered "turkey" to the question "Name something people take with them to the beach." Then he said the same thing for "The first thing you buy in a supermarket" and "A food often stuffed". Thinking of "a famous snooker player", he repeated the answer already given (Higgins) and eventually ran out of time, scoring a grand total of 21 for his contributions, all of which came from correctly answering question 3. The story - as given by his family in the documentary Our Survey Said - goes that he overheard 'chicken' as the answer to the third question, and he got it into his head that if 'chicken' had worked, then surely 'turkey' must be one of the answers as well! Give him his due, though: "turkey" and "chicken" actually were two good answers to the same question - the only problem was that he failed to spot which question it was, or more to the point, wasn't.

Another theory (which sounds suspiciously like someone being creative after the fact) goes that Johnson had meant to say 'turkish towel' as his first answer, but got stuck on his nerves and ended up coming out with 'turkey' for those first three answers. Other people seeing the clip out of context (thanks to Denis Norden in the first instance, and YouTube later on) have assumed that "turkey" was the first thing that came into his head because that was the destination of the prize holiday, but actually the reference (after Bob gave his answers) to "two weeks in Turkey" was just Max riffing - holidays were awarded on later series, but not on Bygraves' watch. In any case, it's certainly become one of the show's, and television in general's, most famous (or should we say infamous?) bloopers. The man who talked turkey, literally According to the excellent 'Gameshow Handbook' by David N Mason, there was a further twist to this episode. Mrs Johnson went up to Max after the recording and asked him how much money he'd take not to broadcast the show. Max duly consulted William G. Stewart , the producer, who asked her how much she had in mind.

She said, "£100" and Stewart then had to explain that a single edition of the show cost £38,000 to mount. She wisely decided not to pursue the matter further! Les having great fun with 'the Dicks' in 1998. "So you're the head of the family, that makes you, the, er..." Catchphrases (Monkhouse era) "The question will appear at the bottom of the screen for viewers who are hard of hearing" "Top [six] answers on the board" "Let's see if it's up there!" "Rejoin your family - no conferring - but the (whichever) family, think of some answers in case you get a chance to steal..." (Max Bygraves): "Biiiig Moooney!" (Les Dennis): "If that answer's there, I'll give you the money meself" "The top answer was..." "You said (whatever), our survey said...." "We asked 100 people to name...." (Before the endgame): (Max): "Join me front and centre, please" and (Les): "Join me at the mike".

"Right - (whoever) - you're going to play first - and (whoever), go and put the headset on and we'll call you back when we're ready for you..." "Rejoin your family - we'll clear the board and bring back (whoever)". "...And if you duplicate any of the answers, you'll hear this sound ('oomp') and I'll ask you for another answer..." "Can we remind the viewers at home of the answers that we had from (whoever), and can I have 20 seconds on the clock, please?" Inventor Based on the US Mark Goodson -Bill Todman format Family Feud. Theme Music Jack Parnell and David Lindup composed the original theme tune that was used between 1980 and 1985. Mike Alexander composed a new theme tune that was used between 1987 and 2002. Ash Alexander and Simon Darlow did a new version of the 1987-2002 one that was used for the All Star series. Trivia Veteran light entertainment producer William G.

Stewart (now best known as the host of Fifteen-to-One ) wasn't happy that "only" 10,000 families applied for his series. The computer which runs the electronic board is called Mr. Babbage named after Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first programmable computer. When the show returned in 1987 (with Les Dennis), after a 2-year break, the original Mr. Babbage computer was replaced with a coloured scoreboard for a few episodes. The new scoreboard didn't last long and they quickly reverted to the original. A surprise ending occurred in an early-90's Christmas celebrity edition, when the winning team, who included Brian Conley and the "Allo, Allo" actor Gorden Kaye, failed to win the jackpot (for charity, of course) at the end. Les promised that that they'd double the score that the team had achieved, but then Kaye piped up, "No, it's not the end - I've got a set of questions for you", and sure enough, he asked Les 5 questions in the usual style of the endgame.

The latter did better on some than on others, but nonetheless notched up enough points to push the team's score over 200, thus generating even more money for charity. The American version of the show was entitled 'Family Feud', but Bob Monkhouse didn't want the British version to be called that, on the grounds that it sounded too aggressive. Most series offered a family photograph of the contestants, posing with the host, as a consolation prize. The winning team received a colour photograph, but - possibly the most mean-spirited gesture imaginable - the losers received theirs in black and white! In an interview some years after he'd finished hosting the show, Les Dennis said that he used to fear for his life when a family won the Big Money game, because they'd be going so wild with delight that they'd almost strangle him when trying to hug him - and the fact that he was often doing his final piece to camera at the time can't have helped much. One would imagine that one of Les's former fellow-gameshow hosts, the late Leslie Crowther , would have sympathised, because some of the latter's contestants on The Price is Right tended to do the same.

Oh, and during one of the shows, Les revealed that people used to react to seeing him in the street by calling out, "Uh-uhh!" - very similar to the late Richard Whiteley having the Countdown catch-tune, "Da da da da, da-da-da-da, BOOM!" shouted at him in public places. According to Lostshows.com , many of the Bob Monkhouse episodes have been wiped from the archives. 28 episodes survived, which included Episode 1 from Series 1 (The very first episode), Episode 23 from Series 2, Episodes 2 & 5 from Series 3 and Episodes 1-12 & 15-26 from Series 4. Bob Monkhouse on the other hand saved over 80 episodes in his private collection of video cassettes he recorded off-air. Merchandise BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Bob Monkhouse: Quiz show king Printable version Bob Monkhouse: Quiz show king Comedian Bob Monkhouse, who died on Monday, was one of the UK's most prolific TV stars, appearing in numerous sitcoms and game shows over the last 50 years.

Bob Monkhouse became a TV regular in the early 1950s Fast and Loose This was Monkhouse's first regular TV show, a live sketch show written with comedy partner Denis Goodwin. Beginning in 1954, it starred the pair alongside other comedy actors including June Whitfield, and ran for two series on the BBC. Fast and Loose on the BBCi Comedy Guide My Pal Bob Monkhouse played a character called Bob in this two-series sitcom, but the domestic characters and scenarios were entirely fictional. Goodwin starred as Bob's "friend, partner and chief victim" while Terence Alexander - star of The Day of the Jackal - appeared as Terry, Bob's drunken neighbour. The show ran in 1957 and 1958. My Pal Bob on BBCi comedy guide Do You Trust Your Wife? The first of Monkhouse's many quiz shows, Monkhouse said he had a comfortable run with this show in the 1950s.

It was a version of a US game show hosted by Johnny Carson where he would ask contestants: "Would you like to answer this one yourself, or do you trust your wife to answer it?" Candid Camera The UK version of this hit US show was hosted by Monkhouse for several years in the early 1960s. It was the daddy of reality TV, using a hidden camera to watch elaborate practical jokes be played on members of the public. The Golden Shot The Golden Shot made Monkhouse a household name Monkhouse became a household name with The Golden Shot, a game show that started in 1967 and ran until 1975. With the catchphrase "Bernie, the bolt!", Monkhouse wisecracked as viewers guided a blindfolded archer by telephone to fire a "telebow" - or a crossbow with a camera attached - into a target to win prizes. One clergyman who criticised the show for being unsafe was invited to the studio - and hit by a bow that ricocheted off the studio lights.

Celebrity Squares He revived Celebrity Squares in the early 1990s After the demise of The Golden Shot, ITV executives adapted US hit Hollywood Squares for Monkhouse, and renamed it Celebrity Squares. It featured nine celebrities in a grid, who had to answer questions to help contestants win prizes in TV take on noughts and crosses. It ran from 1975-79, and was revived from 1993-94, with Monkhouse again at the helm. Family Fortunes Monkhouse became the first host of long-running game show Family Fortunes when the 1970s run of Celebrity Squares ended. The show saw families guess what the general public would have said in response to a particular question. One question posed was: "Name something a vampire might be afraid of". The answer from the contestant came: "Bob Monkhouse." Monkhouse was succeeded by Max Bygraves and later Les Dennis. Bob's Full House On BBC screens from 1984-87, this was a souped up version of TV bingo, with four contestants hoping to get a full house by answering questions - and always trying to avoid being "wallied" when they got one wrong.

Bob's Your Uncle This energetic early 1990s ITV game show played on the marital harmony of newlyweds, who had to sail around in sinking boats and run around the studio for rounds like Sea of Matrimony and Run for Fun. The Golden Shot's crossbow was revived for the final round, after which fireworks would explode if they shot the arrow through the target, a heart. He was known for his fast talking and wise-cracking The $64,000 Question Another early 1990s ITV show, this was a forerunner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, with contestants answering questions and their cash prizes doubling each time - from ï¿½1 up to ï¿½6,400. Wipeout By the late 1990s, Monkhouse replaced magician Paul Daniels as host of daytime BBC quiz Wipeout, another general knowledge-based quiz where contestants had to work out which were the correct answers and which the red herrings from a grid of 16 names.

Family Fortunes You are at: Home » Shows »Family Fortunes Family Fortunes Shows Family Fortunes features two family teams, each with five members, who are asked to guess the results of surveys, in which 100 people would be asked open ended questions (e.g. “we asked 100 people to name something you’d find in a restaurant”). Although rarely acknowledged in the show, the 100 people surveyed would invariably be audience members who had volunteered prior to the show. Each round begins with a member of each team (in rotation, meaning all players did this at least once) approaching the podium. As the question was read, the first of the two nominees to hit a buzzer gives an answer. If this is not the top answer, the other nominee is asked. The team with the higher answer then chooses whether to “play” the question, or “pass” control to the other team (in reality, the teams rarely chose to pass). The host then passes down the line of the controlling team, asking for an answer from each. After each answer, the board reveals whether this answer featured. If not, a “life” is lost.

If a family managed to come up with all the answers given by the “100 people surveyed” (most commonly six in the early part of the show, reduced in number after the commercial break), they win the pounds equivalent of the total number of people who had given the answers. Every time someone gave an answer that was not on the board, the family would lose a life, accompanied by a large “X” on the board with the infamous “uh-uhh” sound. If they lost all three lives, the other family was given the chance to come up with an answer that may be among the missing answers. If this answer was present, the other family won the round and was said to have “stolen” the money; if not, the family who had given the three incorrect answers win however much money their other answers had accumulated. Double Money Following three rounds prior to the commercial break, “Double Money” is played. Gameplay is the same as the first rounds, but each answer is worth £2 for each person who said it, and there are generally fewer possible answers. The family who passes £300 (£200 in series 1) first go on to play “Big Money” for the jackpot.

In the revived 2006 version, there were three rounds of the main game and two rounds of double money and then the family who had the most money after this go on to play Big Money, regardless of whether they had £300 or more. Big Money This involves two contestants out of the five in the family team, answering five questions that fitted with those given by the “100 people surveyed”, with the questions asked within a narrow time limit. The first contestant gives his/her answers to the five questions within 15 seconds; then the second contestant (who had been out of earshot of the first) give his or her answers within 20 seconds (the extra time was available for the contestant to give another answer if he/she duplicated an answer given by the previous contestant). If they get 200 points or more from the ten answers (i.e. at least 200 people had agreed with all ten answers combined), they win the top cash prize. From 1994 onwards, a bonus star prize was available if all five top answers were found, in addition to reaching 200+ points.

If the family could not earn 200 points, they won £2 per point, up to £398. In the revived 2006 version, a loss earns £10 times the points earned in both front and end games, up to £1,990+. Hosts Family Fortunes was first hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse (1980 – 1983) then by popular singer and entertainer Max Bygraves (1983-1985). After being rested for the whole of 1986 (during which time Max Bygraves offered to finance its production himself) it returned with Les Dennis on 27 June 1987, and had a consistently successful run for the next fifteen years. It was then moved out of peak time and became a daily daytime show, hosted by Andy Collins, but it only had a short run in this format before being axed. For 2006, the series was hosted by Vernon Kay, and was renamed All Star Family Fortunes, as each team consisted of a celebrity and four family members.

Family Fortunes | TVmaze Family Fortunes Gallery (2) Follow "Family Fortunes" is a British television game show based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002 before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes. The game involves two families providing answers to 'everyday questions' that were surveyed by 100 members of the British public before the show (e.g. 'Name something usually done in the dark') to win cash prizes (and sometimes mystery prizes for giving a correct answer). The top answers to the surveys are displayed on a large electronic board, originally known as "Mr. Babbage", which famously sounds a wrong answer "Duh-uhh" sound effect and its accompanying X to signal the strike, as well as a "ding" for a right answer). Family Fortunes was first hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse (1980–83) then by singer and entertainer Max Bygraves (1983–85).

After being rested for the whole of 1986, the show returned on 27 June 1987 with Les Dennis as presenter, and had a consistently successful run for the next 15 years. It was then moved out of peak time and became a daily daytime show, hosted by Andy Collins, but it only had a short run in this format before being axed. In 2006, the series was revived with Vernon Kay as host, and was renamed All Star Family Fortunes, as each team consisted of a celebrity and four family members. The show was also transmitted back to peak time. Prize money goes to a charity of the celebrity's choice, and contestants being either celebrity families, or a group of actors famous for playing a fictional family. Several Christmas specials of All Star Family Fortunes have aired as well. Share this on: Bob Monkhouse Bottom 30 (1980) Placing: #30 Related links below The following comes from various souyrces as Bob Monkhouse was a huge and much loved star. A master comedian, a one-line maestro and the king of quiz-shows.

Brief Summarey Robert Alan Monkhouse was born in Beckenham, Kent, England, 1 June 1928. Attended Dulwich College. Married: 1) Elizabeth, 1949 (divorced 1972), children: Abigail, Gary and Simon; 2) Jacqueline, 1973. Trained as a cartoon film animator with Gaumont British; started performing as comedian while member of the Royal Air Force, 1947-49; formed successful writing partnership with Denis Goodwin; became BBC's first contract comedian, performing on the Work Wonders radio show, 1949; starred in own radio show, 1949-83; starred in first television series, 1952; built up reputation as major cabaret attraction worldwide; host and guest performer on many BBC and ITV programs. Officer of the Order of the British Empire, 1993. Recipient: Top Comedian in Cabaret, 1981, 1987; After-Dinner Speaker of the Year, 1989.

Address: Peter Prichard, Mezzanine Floor, 235 Regent Street, London W1X 8AX, England. Obituary Robert Alan Monkhouse, one of Britain's best known comedians and game show hosts, died on Dec. 29 from prostate cancer. He was 75. Monkhouse was the class clown at Dulwich College. His parents hoped he would join the family's custard business, but Bob and his friend Denis Goodwin had other plans. The duo became a crack writing team, penning jokes for comedians like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis. The partnership would last for more than 30 years, until Goodwin committed suicide in 1975. Monkhouse self-published his own comic strip and spent a brief time working as an animator with the Walt Disney studios in London before doing his National Service with the Royal Air Force. After returning to civilian life, he became a full-time radio gag writer and stand-up comedian, appearing in revue with his close friend and mentor Benny Hill before breaking into television. For nearly half a century, Monkhouse entertained viewers of the BBC and ITV as the host of popular TV game shows.

He fronted more than 30 different programs, including "Celebrity Squares," "The Golden Shot," "Family Fortunes," "The $64,000 Question" and "Bob's Your Uncle." Off-screen, Monkhouse performed in 150 cabaret and stand-up gigs each year. In 1993, he published his autobiography, "Crying With Laughter," and was honored with the Order of the British Empire. Last year, the Television and Radio Industries Club gave him a lifetime achievement award. Announcement of His Death from BBC Comedian Bob Monkhouse dies The British entertainment world is mourning comedian Bob Monkhouse, who has died aged 75. The star, one of the UK's best known entertainers, battled prostate and bone cancer for more than two years. He died peacefully in his sleep with his wife Jackie at his side, said his manager of 38 years, Peter Prichard. "He was respected by all the other comedians because he was dedicated to his craft - he never stopped making people laugh," Mr Prichard said. Mr Prichard said Monkhouse was still working six weeks before his death, despite being in a great deal of pain.

When I said I was going to become a comedian, they all laughed. Well, they're not laughing now. "He's one of the bravest men I've met. He suffered very badly at times with it but he carried on. "He was a total professional and one of the funniest men in the world," he said. Speaking of his own sense of loss, Mr Prichard said: "I knew it was coming, but when you get the news you realise we have lost one of the greatest comics that England has ever produced." In 1993, Monkhouse, who lived in Eggington, near Leighton Buzzard, was awarded the OBE. In March this year, when accepting a lifetime achievement award from the Television and Radio Industries Club, Monkhouse said he had been "very lucky" with his treatment. It involved an implant in his stomach and a daily pill which allowed him to keep on working. Monkhouse once said: "I'll never stop working. I want to die in the saddle. A day is wasted for me if I haven't done something even mildly creative." "Anyone who understood comedy loved Bob.

He would arrive at any function or cabaret with specially written, individual material for every occasion," said fellow entertainer Des O'Connor. "He loved showbusiness and showbusiness was lucky to have him. He was not only a brilliant mind, but the warmest and most genuine of friends. One of the brightest lights just went out on the Christmas tree," he said. BBC director general Greg Dyke said Monkhouse understood TV entertainment better than anyone else in the last four decades. "Bob was a major entertainment figure for nearly half a century with both the BBC and ITV," he said. Born in Beckenham, south London, in June 1928, Monkhouse developed his talent for comedy while a pupil at nearby Dulwich College. He went on to enjoy a long career as a comedian and occasional straight actor. But Monkhouse was probably best known as a host of popular TV game shows including Celebrity Squares and Family Fortunes. Monkhouse leaves a daughter, Abigail. His two sons both died in tragic circumstances, Gary from cerebral palsy and Simon from a heroin overdose.

Story from BBC NEWS: Bob's Amazing Quiz-Show Career Bob Monkhouse: Quiz show king Comedian Bob Monkhouse, who died on Monday, was one of the UK's most prolific TV stars, appearing in numerous sitcoms and game shows over the last 50 years. Fast and Loose This was Monkhouse's first regular TV show, a live sketch show written with comedy partner Denis Goodwin. Beginning in 1954, it starred the pair alongside other comedy actors including June Whitfield, and ran for two series on the BBC. My Pal Bob Monkhouse played a character called Bob in this two-series sitcom, but the domestic characters and scenarios were entirely fictional. Goodwin starred as Bob's "friend, partner and chief victim" while Terence Alexander - star of The Day of the Jackal - appeared as Terry, Bob's drunken neighbour. The show ran in 1957 and 1958. Do You Trust Your Wife? The first of Monkhouse's many quiz shows, Monkhouse said he had a comfortable run with this show in the 1950s.

It was a version of a US game show hosted by Johnny Carson where he would ask contestants: "Would you like to answer this one yourself, or do you trust your wife to answer it?" Candid Camera The UK version of this hit US show was hosted by Monkhouse for several years in the early 1960s. It was the daddy of reality TV, using a hidden camera to watch elaborate practical jokes be played on members of the public. The Golden Shot Monkhouse became a household name with The Golden Shot, a game show that started in 1967 and ran until 1975. With the catchphrase "Bernie, the bolt!", Monkhouse wisecracked as viewers guided a blindfolded archer by telephone to fire a "telebow" - or a crossbow with a camera attached - into a target to win prizes. One clergyman who criticised the show for being unsafe was invited to the studio - and hit by a bow that ricocheted off the studio lights. Celebrity Squares After the demise of The Golden Shot, ITV executives adapted US hit Hollywood Squares for Monkhouse, and renamed it Celebrity Squares.

It featured nine celebrities in a grid, who had to answer questions to help contestants win prizes in TV take on noughts and crosses. It ran from 1975-79, and was revived from 1993-94, with Monkhouse again at the helm. Family Fortunes Monkhouse became the first host of long-running game show Family Fortunes when the 1970s run of Celebrity Squares ended. The show saw families guess what the general public would have said in response to a particular question. One question posed was: "Name something a vampire might be afraid of". The answer from the contestant came: "Bob Monkhouse." Monkhouse was succeeded by Max Bygraves and later Les Dennis. Bob's Full House On BBC screens from 1984-87, this was a souped up version of TV bingo, with four contestants hoping to get a full house by answering questions - and always trying to avoid being "wallied" when they got one wrong.

Bob's Your Uncle This energetic early 1990s ITV game show played on the marital harmony of newlyweds, who had to sail around in sinking boats and run around the studio for rounds like Sea of Matrimony and Run for Fun. The Golden Shot's crossbow was revived for the final round, after which fireworks would explode if they shot the arrow through the target, a heart. The $64,000 Question Another early 1990s ITV show, this was a forerunner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, with contestants answering questions and their cash prizes doubling each time - from �1 up to �6,400. Wipeout By the late 1990s, Monkhouse replaced magician Paul Daniels as host of daytime BBC quiz Wipeout, another general knowledge-based quiz where contestants had to work out which were the correct answers and which the red herrings from a grid of 16 names. Links ...

Question: Who hosted UK TV's 'Family Fortunes' after Bob Monkhouse and before Les Dennis?
Answer: MAX BYGRAVES