Paul Whitehouse has revealed he has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and has cut out sugar, as Gone Fishing returns for its ninth series. The 68-year-old Fast Show star said he has limited his alcohol intake and adopted a healthier diet after being told his blood sugar levels were too high.
Health Changes for the Fishing Duo
Whitehouse explained: "I sort of was diagnosed that I've crept into Type 2 diabetes area. I think with my lifestyle and our age, I think it's quite common, actually. I could probably have reduced it by cutting out the Maltesers, which I've done. I've just done it, Bob! I have two bits of dark chocolate that's basically torture and not chocolate."
His co-star Bob Mortimer, 67, said he was astonished because Whitehouse is such a huge chocoholic. "One night when we were fishing, I saw you on top of the kitchen wall cabinets looking for it," he laughed. Whitehouse recalled the incident, saying: "All my clothes were off, and I was just in a fury trying to find chocolate. We'd been fishing in the day, we'd gone down to that little lake in the grounds and caught some big trout, remember? And I thought I deserved a chocolate reward, but there was no chocolate in the house, and I went mad. Anyway, I've cut almost all sugar out, and I'm also prescribed some medication for it."
Mortimer's Gym Membership
Mortimer has also made lifestyle changes, taking up a gym membership since the last series. However, Whitehouse laughed when Mortimer admitted he has only been once because he hurt his toe on the first visit. "You've been styling it out like you're there every day in, day out, with 'kettlebell this' and all that." Mortimer argued: "I've got my kettlebells and weights at home, and I sit watching the telly doing exercises. I've really been working on it."
Tribute to Ted the Dog
The duo, who filmed the latest series earlier this year, also spoke fondly of their TV dog Ted the terrier, who died in April aged 13. Ted, owned by the show's executive producer Lisa Clark, would always accompany them on their fishing trips. Mortimer said: "It's a highlight to have our last dance with Ted. We will continue in his honour, as it were, continue to fish. It is very sad, but it is lovely that we've got an episode left where people can reflect on his presence and his attitude."
Whitehouse added: "That's one of my favourite shows when we visit The Ribble. And we actually catch quite a lot of fish as well - maybe Ted brought us luck. The great thing about Ted, really, is he didn't give a monkey's about us. I think that's what we really loved about him."
New Series Highlights
This series features a celebrity guest from Inside No 9, Reece Shearsmith, while filming on the banks of the River Tees, near where Mortimer grew up. Mortimer said: "Do you know what was a really nice highlight? Having Reece Shearsmith come along with all his ghostly stories."
The pair put the show's continued success down to the fact that they've stuck with the original format. Mortimer explained: "Whenever we're asked about the series, like what's new and so on, to be honest with you, we quite doggedly keep it the same, is the truth of it."
Whitehouse highlighted the food in the new series, saying: "It's a celebration of the rivers, and lakes, and the British countryside. And your grub on the riverbank. I liked your deconstructed fish finger sandwich when we were in Northern Ireland."
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing airs on BBC2 and iPlayer, Sunday, 9pm.
