Jonathan Routh

Jun 11 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

HE BELONGED to the long and noble tradition of brilliant Britons who didn’t take life seriously, except, perhaps, in their desire to see those who did take life seriously appear ridiculous.

Thus, the young man, whose beetle-brows were thick enough to stuff a modest mattress, was able to persuade people that his performing flea, Little Louis, had escaped in a London taxi – which could easily have passed him on the day that he was dressed as a tree waiting for the bus to Sherwood Forest.

This delight in mockery, whether it was of himself or others, would lead Jonathan Routh to Kenny Everett of Seaforth, Sefton, another chap who saw the comic potential in almost everything.

But, before that, Routh made millions laugh, sometimes painfully at his practical jokes, in which members of the public were innocently drawn into stunts on Candid Camera (1960-67, 6,400 hoaxes), on which they carried out absurd tasks, unaware that they were being filmed, until they were told, “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera”.

Most dupes managed at least a sickly grin, though the former heavyweight boxer Sid Richardson thumped Routh after failing to see the funny side.

Routh was born in Gosport, Hampshire, but was brought up in Palestine. A prankster by nature, he gained opprobrium at Uppingham School for hanging a banner saying, “Vote Routh Communist” in the chapel during a mock election. He advanced to Emmanuel College, Cam- bridge, where he revived the Footlights dramatic society and read history, but left after a year to pursue a career as a journalist.

Two years of Candid Microphone on Radio Luxembourg led to TV. After Candid Camera, he teamed up with Everett, a soulmate, and Germaine Greer on Nice Time (1968-69), a Granada comedy sketch show produced by John Birt of Bootle, who became director-general of the BBC.

Routh also had success with his books, including A Good Loo Guide (Where to go in London), the Better John Guide (Where to go in New York) and the Guide Porcelaine, which did a similar job for Paris.

For a while, he followed the life of a Bohemian artist, attributing his survival to the kindness of others.

In later life, Routh lived in Jamaica, still japing. His private life was not without incident. There were two marriages, two children and several affairs.

Jonathan Routh, joker; born November 24, 1927, died June 4, 2008.