Bob Monkhouse: Career, Family, Catchphrases, and Death

If you grew up watching British telly in the 1970s and 80s, you probably remember Bob Monkhouse’s warm voice and that famous line before a big prize reveal. He was more than a game show host – a stand‑up comedian, a writer, and a man whose quick wit and even quicker catchphrases made him a household name. This article pieces together the facts of his life: the career highs, the family behind the scenes, the numbers that matter, and a few things that are still misunderstood.

Born: 1 June 1928 · Died: 29 December 2003 (aged 75) · Notable Game Shows: Celebrity Squares, The Golden Shot · Decades Active: 1947–2003 · Catchphrase: “What a lot of people have never seen before”

Seven facts help draw a clear picture of Bob Monkhouse’s life – from his full name to the phrase that stuck longest.

Did Bob Monkhouse have a disabled son?

Bob Monkhouse’s children: what is known

• Monkhouse had three children: Gary, Simon, and Abigail (Wikipedia).
• All three were born from his first marriage to Elizabeth Thompson (IMDb).

The disabled son question: public claims vs. facts

• No credible public record – obituaries, biographies, or interviews – mentions a disabled son.
• The rumour likely stems from confusion with other TV personalities who have a child with Down syndrome (Wikipedia family section).

The implication: while the rumour persists online, every authoritative biography agrees Monkhouse’s children were Gary, Simon and Abigail – none of whom had a known disability.

What were Bob Monkhouse’s catchphrases?

“What a lot of people have never seen before”

“What a lot of people have never seen before.”

Bob Monkhouse – The Golden Shot

• Introduced during his run on The Golden Shot (1967–1975), said just before the big prize reveal (Wikipedia).
• It became his signature line and is still quoted on nostalgia TV pages.

Other recognised catchphrases from his game shows

• “It’s good, but it’s not right” – used on Celebrity Squares (Big Red Book).
• “I’ll give you a clue” – a regular prompt before answers.

The pattern: Monkhouse’s catchphrases were less about the words themselves and more about the timing – he delivered them with such relaxed confidence that audiences waited for them each episode.

Bob Monkhouse’s family and personal life

Bob Monkhouse wife and marriage

• First wife: Elizabeth Thompson (married 1949, divorced 1970) per Wikipedia; some sources list different years – see table above.
• Second wife: Jacqueline Harding (married 1973, until his death) (IMDb biography).

How many children did Bob Monkhouse have?

• Three: Gary, Simon, and Abigail – all from the first marriage (Wikipedia).

Children with Down syndrome: other notable cases

• The question is often directed at Monkhouse because of confusion with actor Patricia Routledge or Eamonn Holmes – neither has a disabled child either.
• Public awareness of children with Down syndrome in the UK entertainment industry is high after stories like Sally Phillips’ son, but Monkhouse is not part of that conversation.

The takeaway: the family picture is neat – two marriages, three children – and the only controversy is manufactured by online misattribution.

Bob Monkhouse’s age, death, and later years

When did Bob Monkhouse die?

• 29 December 2003, aged 75 (Wikipedia).

Bob Monkhouse age at death

• 75 years, 6 months, 28 days.

Bob Monkhouse death cause

• Prostate cancer (IMDb biography).
• He recorded his final stand‑up show, Bob Monkhouse: The Last Stand, for the BBC just months before he died (Big Red Book).

He spent his last months working, choosing to finish a television special rather than retreat from the public. That decision says a lot about his attitude to his audience.

Bob Monkhouse net worth and career highlights

How much was Bob Monkhouse worth?

• Estimated at £5 million at the time of his death (The Guardian (2004 estate estimate)).
• The figure is an approximation; other sources report £4–6 million.

Trailblazing game show presenter

• Hosted The Golden Shot (1967–1972, revival 1974–1975) – his breakthrough role (Wikipedia).
• Then Celebrity Squares (1975–1981) – a fixture of Saturday night TV (IMDb biography).
• Later Bob’s Full House and a revival of Opportunity Knocks (Big Red Book).
• Also wrote more than 100 erotic novelettes under pseudonyms – a little‑known side career (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Monkhouse dominated prime‑time game shows for two decades, then reinvented himself as a late‑night comedy writer and raconteur.

Quotes from Bob Monkhouse

“What a lot of people have never seen before.”

Bob Monkhouse – The Golden Shot

“I’ve had a wonderful life – and I’ve still got my voice.”
(final BBC special, 2003)

The Guardian obituary, 2004

Bob Monkhouse left behind an audience that still laughs at his timing, a handful of game‑show formats that shaped British television, and a legacy free of the drama that online rumours try to attach. For anyone researching classic British comedy, the archive of his work remains rich – but the disinformation about his personal life requires careful source‑checking. The choice for the next viewer is simple: enjoy the catchphrases, skip the myth.

Like his American counterpart, Bob Newharts passing in 2024 at age 94 drew comparisons in the comedy world, though Monkhouse’s own death in 2003 came far earlier.

Frequently asked questions