Bob Mortimer says fans “often come up and burst into tears” about how much Gone Fishing has helped them. The popular television series sees the 67-year-old and fellow comedian Paul Whitehouse, 68, sharing personal life stories while going fishing.
Most famously, the lifelong friends talk extensively about their heart operations and health struggles. Bob said the BBC Two show, which will see its ninth season aired later this month, has “helped people” through their own operations. He said fans now want to thank him instead of just telling him “how much they enjoyed my shows” as they used to before.
Encouraging Openness About Illness and Mental Health
The show has encouraged others not to feel “embarrassed to talk about illness and mental health”, he added. Fast Show legend Paul says they have both “had to become better people because of the surprising reaction we get for this show”. He accepted that the show is very different from “just having some laughs”.
Bob argues that copycat shows, such as on birding, camping and pubs, cannot pull it off as it is “more difficult than people think”. He added: “We genuinely have known each other for years. People can tell that. I’m proud how beautiful this show makes the country look. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s present and it doesn’t remind me of something that has gone. It is out there.”
New Series Premiere and Personal Revelations
The new series, which begins with the death of Ted the terrier who accompanied the duo on many trips, will premiere on Sunday October 26 at 9pm.
Bob also revealed he proposed to his wife in potentially the strangest way possible. The Last One Laughing star popped the question to his partner Lisa in their kitchen while he was cleaning the sink with bleach, just a day before he was scheduled for major heart surgery. He said he wanted to make their relationship official as he was worried he could die on the operating table, which would leave Lisa without any access to his money. They tied the knot just half an hour before he was admitted to hospital.
