Hooked from the age of seven after seeing George Formby, Bob took to writing jokes and sending them to leading variety stars Finally he won the admiration of Max Miller who gave him a masterclass in comic technique One of this country's most sucessful comedians, Bob's confessions combine the wit of his public image with the revelation of his private tragedies and will come as a shock to those who see him only as the self-assured TV host and cabaret star