The beloved canine star of the BBC series Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, Ted the Patterdale Terrier mix, has passed away at the age of 13. The BBC confirmed that Ted, who had been a fixture on the show for the past six years, died and will make his final appearance in the upcoming series.
Tributes from the Show's Stars
Bob Mortimer paid heartfelt tribute, saying: "So very, very sad. Lovely Ted, the best companion and the greatest little chum. Going to miss him so much.. and away boss." Paul Whitehouse added: "Bye bye Ted old friend. He wasn't a dog, he was a species all of his own. He's gone to the great briefcase emporium in the sky. We will really miss you mate."
Ted belonged to Gone Fishing executive producer Lisa Clark. He was rescued from a dog's home in Surrey at just six months old in the spring of 2013. Clark said in a statement: "Ted was a much-loved family pet as well as a treasured companion to Paul and Bob on Gone Fishing. He took fame in his little stride and loved nothing better than messing around on the riverbanks, nicking jammy dodgers from Bob and bait from Paul. He will be sorely missed both at home and on screen. We'll never forget him. He is survived at home by Bo the Briard."
A Scene-Stealing Star
Ted made his Gone Fishing debut in series three and quickly became a scene-stealing star. He frequently stuck his snout into the stars' fishing bags and kept them company on various British riverbanks. Whitehouse and Mortimer lovingly mocked Ted throughout his time on the show, developing a rich backstory for him as an explosives expert who had lost his briefcase in the woods. Over the last six series, fans watched Ted celebrate his birthday, head on his first date, and cuddle up to the comedians.
Influencer Fame and Books
Outside the show, Ted achieved influencer fame, amassing 282,000 followers on Instagram. He also released two books: Ted's Pawtobiography and Ted: Pup Fiction. After a tribute was posted to his Instagram page, many stars paid their respects. Diane Morgan from Motherland commented: "Oh god, this has me welling up! What an amazing little character he was. Sending love to his family for giving him such an incredible life xx." Comedian Charlie Baker added: "Good Boy Ted. Hope you find your briefcase. Thanks for the joy."
Ted will posthumously appear in one episode of the upcoming ninth series of Gone Fishing.
