My Life Story

Crying With Laughter

A classic autobiography from one of Britain's most loved and most famous comedians. Known for his witty one-liners, Bob Monkhouse was a hilarious stand-up comedian, hugely popular game show host of programmes including Family Fortunes and The Golden Shot, and legendary chat show host of the eponymous Bob Monkhouse Show.

An entertaining and abrasive canter through his up-and-down life - Witty, moving, candid - and very well written

It makes a refreshing change to read some real revelations from the life of a true, old-fashioned star

Riveting - packed with cracking true stories

Bob Monkhouse was one of Britain's most enduring comedians and TV presenters, with a career spanning more than half a century. He started his broadcasting career on radio in 1949, and worked as a stand-up comedian, but hit the big time as a gag writer with his partner, Denis Goodwin. They wrote jokes for the likes of Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Much of Monkhouse's later fame stemmed from game shows, hosting TV programmes such as The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares and Family Fortunes. He was awarded the OBE in 1993, and in 1995 he won a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards. He died after losing his battle with cancer in December 2003.

This is Bob Monkhouse's classic autobiography. One of Britain's most enduring and famous comedians tells us in his own inimitable style the fascinating and often hilarious story of his life. From disclosures of very painful personal tragedies to extraordinary and outrageously funny anecdotes about the stars he knew, his confessions are blisteringly honest, touching - and often shocking. Crying With Laughter combines heartache with hilarity, sexy showbiz revelations with genuinely moving tales of the hard times, and typically funny jokes with sobering personal reflections, to create a passionate, witty and sparkling account of an extraordinary man's extraordinary life.

Bob Monkhouse

Bob`s journals of the last few years are interwoven with memories of a life in comedy. There are meetings with remarkable comedians -some like Paul Merton at the height of their powers, others like Dick Emery and Benny Hill in sad decline - and Bob reflects on what makes comedians great. Above all here is a wealth of wonderful true adventures, star scandals and gossip about the famous and infamous personalities he`s known initmately, with more stars than the most lavish Royal Variety Performance, including: Peter Sellers, Rex Harrison, Les Dawson, Elton John, Larry Grayson, Bing Crosby, Beryl Reid, k d lang and Luciano Pavarotti. As Bob puts it, `All the good stuff I couldn`t put in my autobiography because there wouldn`t have been room for me!' There has always been room for Bob in the hearts of the British public, and this very, very funny book is just one more reason why he so richly deserves his place in our affections.

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