Barry Cryer

The Unforgettable Bob Monkhouse Review

Bob Monkhouse, as we're repeatedly told at the beginning of this unlikely homage, is "one of the most prolific entertainers", "a master of all trades", "the quintessential quiz show presenter"...and so it goes on. A more accurate assessment is provided by Barry Cryer who compares the permatanned presenter to Marmite.

Kenny Everett died 15 years ago, which seems an awfully long time to have been without the DJ/comedian who specialised in bad taste, anarchic humour and a biting line in satire. First shown on Channel 4, this affectionate tribute features Barry Cryer, Steve Wright and Barry Took, who celebrate the weird genius of Everett's career on radio and on TV, where his mix of nonsense, rudery and stabs at authority have been missed. The characters he created, such as Sid Snot and Marcel Wave, also defined his humour, although it's telling that this insecure comedian once said about his time on radio, "It's a good place to work if you are not really a jolly person but want to appear to be one."

The title alludes to the many talents of Bob Monkhouse, cartoonist, comedian, film fanatic, game show host, actor, writer. He was also, as he once revealed on In the Psychiatrist's Chair, heir to a custard manufacturing fortune who gave up the family firm for the footlights, a struggle with himself that made him more complicated and vulnerable than his public persona projected. Barry Cryer narrates this careful and well-judged documentary in which an unusually wide range of interviewees testify to his wit, slickness, versatility - and kindness.

Barry Cryer remembers his friend Bob Monkhouse

Bob was one of a kind and he was very much aware of this.

"Huh, huh, huh, huh," is the first thing you hear, the unmistakeable laugh of Tommy Cooper, comedian, magician, a man so funny that you just had to see him to start laughing. Eric Morecambe wouldn't go on the stage after him, says Barry Cryer, one of the many stars who line up here to remember a unique giant of light entertainment. He died in 1984 but memories of him are still vivid. His humour wasn't in the joke, says producer Royston Mayoh, but the delivery of it, and it lives on today through the internet. Sean Lock, comedian, presents.

First of a pair of charming plays (there's another tomorrow) by Michael Chaplin about William (Richard Briers) and Sandy (Stanley Baxter), two residents at the Old Beeches retirement home for theatricals who, when the call comes, can set their differences aside and solve the occasional mystery. Today's involves Charlie (Barry Cryer), an elderly comic. His joke book goes missing and, with it, quite a lot of money. But it's a delicate situation, one that will soon call for all the tact that our duo of tetchy amateur sleuths can muster.

A "roast" in this instance is a kind of good-natured ragging session: the elderly golfing enthusiast is mocked by a panel of comedians, all of whom seem as perplexed as he is as to what they're doing there. Jimmy Carr, not a performer known for his amiability, is the master of ceremonies, seemingly on his best behaviour while a panel including Jack Dee and Barry Cryer share their Brucie-based reminiscences.

The comedy "roast" is a US showbiz institution where "roastmasters" pay mocking tribute to a well-loved star. Now Channel 4 is introducing the tradition here. Jimmy Carr compères and the first subject is Bruce Forsyth. His wife, colleagues and comedians including Barry Cryer queue up to take pot shots at his career, golfing ability and age. A consummate pro, Forsyth takes it all on that unmistakeable chin.

Although it might not sound it, a roast is the ultimate honour for any entertainer. First started at the New York Friars' Club in the 1920s and made famous by Dean Martin on his TV show in the 1960s and 1970s, a roast involves you sitting in a room with your friends, family and colleagues as they mercilessly take the mickey out of you - goodnatured bullying, as the host Jimmy Carr calls it. There are three roasts this week - don't miss Sharon Osbourne's on Thursday and Chris Tarrant on Friday - but first up is Mr Showbusiness himself, Bruce Forsyth. Lining up to pay mocking tribute are Jack Dee, Jason Manford, Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Jon Culshaw, Barry Cryer and, best of all, Jonathan Ross. It may be sycophantic, but there are still some hilarious moments.

Unlike the US version of this show, which can be shockingly vicious and unpleasant (see Joan Rivers's on Monday), there's something rather comforting about Channel 4's effort, which sees tribute paid to Bruce Forsyth through mockery. Despite host Jimmy Carr giving off his usual warmth (reptile in outdoor bath, mid-Siberian winter), it's like watching a series of best man's speeches.

Jonathan Ross, Jack Dee and Barry Cryer all step up to wheel out jokes about how old Brucie is, how rubbish his early career was and how young his wife is. It does sound like irritating vieux chapeau - but it's done with enough classy lines to pass the time. In a comforting way.