If you have ever seen his library, his books were filled with comedy.

Meir Wise When Monkhouse died, we lost the Professor of Comedy - the only one we've had. Such an encyclopaedic knowledge of comedy as a whole ... his approach was practically scientific, really.

Yep grew up with Bob loved the " golden shot" etc king of the game shows and superb comedy later in the club's. 👍

Absolutely Barry. Should be standard viewing for up & coming comedians.No wonder present comedy isn't very funny.

Its brilliant, getting right down to the nuts & bolts of comedy performance. Sad that you don't see this level of insight today on tv.

There was a series in which Bob monkhouse analysed comedians by looking at their history and revealing what they were really like. It was the best thing he ever did. Absorbing TV. In one episode he revealed what Peter sellers was really like. And how sellers who agreed to be on celebrity squares. Let monkhouse down spectacularly. 1 minute to air. No sign of sellers. When suddenly there was a call. Monkhouse was handed a phone. Sellers could not make the as he was on the qe 2. Heading to carribean with family. Monkhouse never forgave and he never worked with sellers again

Bob monkhouse behind the laughter

the polar opposite of parkinson you mean? lol. fair point that i'll agree with to the end.

David Miller Bob was a chat show host once upon a time.

Bob is so serious here because the mechanics of comedy were his absolute passion and obsession. He wasn't merely having a chat, he was genuinely fascinated by the answers. No room for time wasting getting a laugh. The credits show it was devised by him too.

You read my mind there, David. I was on the verge of making a fresh comment and so I am glad that I scrolled through what had already been said. Largely apart from enjoying the heyday of The Golden Shot as a youngster, and to be fair his Silent Comedy show Mad Movies in the 60s, I was never fond of Bob Monkhouse's act. Sadly, it is only more recently that I have watched the documentary series about his prodigious archive and the one about his career that I learned quite how different he was to the on stage persona. And in this show, I thought he did a great job. Equally with Ben Elton, his early act painted him as an utter knob, but I loved Blackadder and secretly ascribed all the best writing to Richard Curtis. But he comes across well here, less bursting to court approval constantly.

He was a chat show host

2 great comics never to be repeated...sorry you did say.

The point of comedy is that there should be different styles, genres, topics that a comedian covers. There should be at least one comedian for every person's own preference and style. For me Billy Connolly, Dave Allen, Jasper Carrott are my favourite of old style comedians.

Watch again, ben elton clearly said it in jest, he knew as well as everyone in that room he was in the presence of genius.

That's the kind of crack Bob Monkhouse often came out with himself. A bit like his gag "they used to laugh when I said I wanted to be a comedian; they're not laughing now.

The London twang is an act. Elton was from an academic background.

This was a one-off, although I believe Monkhouse wanted it to go to series. Would have been fascinating.

This feels like a pilot for a series which, sadly, never got made. However the pilot was so good it got televised. I agree that Monkhouse plays it a little too straight, and rarely even breaks into a smile. That said, I think if it had gone to a series he would've relaxed somewhat.

A great man on a chair plus one 😅

Good point

Ben Elton was more of a political comic observer, so much of his material had to be fresh and new almost each week so i applaud him for his work ethic there.

George Carlin was brilliant

Ironic then, that your attempt at a humorous putdown was so _painfully_ unfunny. The guy co-wrote "The Young Ones" and "Blackadder". Story, end of.

Did you tell that one to Frank?

Were you frank's first patient?

what part don't you get? the part where one much loved and respected comedy performer asks another what makes him tick? or are you just too young to appreciate their combined works & accept they above many others know what their talking about?

Just brilliant. A very much changed perception of Ben Elton as a performer. Always loved his writing though. And Bob, as well prepared as ever. Isn't it great when the interviewer has actually studied his interviewee? Great, and more importantly, intelligent interview. RIP Bob.

The last couple of series Bob monkhouse did for the BBC was all about seeing what made comedians tick. The first series was all about people he knew. It was one of the best things he ever did. It was deeply serious bob monkhouse. Who was a very intelligent man

Theres absolutely nothing to understand.