Bob Mortimer is known for his eccentric humour, absurd stories and more recently his fishing trips.
The comedian, podcast presenter, and actor made his name after working with Vic Reeves as part of a Vic and Bob comedy double act. Over the years, Bob has appeared on Would I Lie To You, Shooting Stars and Taskmaster and has beenvoted as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
A proud northerner, Bob, was born in Middlesbrough on May 23 1959, and grew up with three brothers, but tragically, when Bob was just seven years old his father died in a car crash.
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On BBC's Desert Island Discs, he opened up about the time. He said: "I just remember coming back home, being ushered away by policemen, not knowing what was happening and then a couple of weeks later being told that my dad had died… and then crying and being very sad about it, then kind of forgetting about it really and thinking that it hadn’t affected me at all.
"But then, later in my life [I realised] it was probably the defining moment of my life, it’s defined my personality."
Working as a lawyer in London
After passing his O-levels, Bob initially wanted to become an electrician. However, he deicded eventually to sit his A-levels and go on to study law. After leaving university, Bob became a solicitor and joined a firm in Peckham.
Meeting Vic Reeves
In 1986, Bob went to a pub in London with his friends to see a new show by the comedian Vic Reeves.
Following the performance, Bob approached Vic whom asked if he would like to come on stage and talk about his day at work. This led to a regular slot on the show, christend 'Vic Reeves' Big Night out', for Bob and the opportunity to write material with Vic.
Vic Reeves' Big Night Out
The show was discovered by Alan Yentob of the BBC, and Michael Grade of Channel 4. After both channels showed interest, a deal was made with Channel 4 to produce the show for live television.
At the time, Bob was still working as a solicitor, however following Channel 4's proposal, Bob took a 10-week break to film the series. He never returned to the law firm.
Since Vic Reeves' Big Night out, Bob and Vic have worked together on several sitcomes, sketch shows, surreal comedies.
Would I Lie To You
Since 2012, Bob has been a regular guest panellist on BBC's Would I Lie To You? He has appeared in eleven episodes and will soon star in the 2023 series.
Some of his tales have included setting fire to his house with a box of fireworks and for the past 15 year performing his own dentistry. Bob has been dubbed as one of Would I Lie To You's best guests.
Heart surgery to Gone Fishing
In 2015, Bob revealed how his triple bypass operation led to the creation of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
He said: "You can go two ways after heart surgery, you can either get scared and just shrink onto your sofa and keep yourself safe, or you can engage with life again. I think I was probably in danger of taking the first option.
"Paul just kept asking me, ‘Come on, let’s go fishing.’ [He] kept asking, until eventually I did go fishing with Paul and I absolutely adored it. I discovered something that I’d lost from when I was young: just a purposeless day, with a friend just chewing the fat."
Three years later, the two were commissioned to film their trips for BBC Two. Five series of the programme have aired to date.
Battle with rheumatoid arthritis
Bob has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since childhood. Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. The condition usually affects the hands, feet and wrists.
Bob has revealed in the past how the condition can leave him in "absolute agony". In the My Kind of Day column in the latest Radio Times, Bob said: "I have to be careful because I have rheumatoid arthritis all over my body. Steroids keep it under control it's treatable, but not curable, and it flares up with a major attack every now and then."
In September 2022, Bob shared how he "wasn't very well" following a hospital visit due to his rheumatoid arthritis. Bob said: "I am not very well. I am not very healthy at the moment.
"Yes, I might be fat, but actually I am on steroids… it takes until you are 60 to realise all the things you could have done." He continued: "At my age, we all feel 47, but then your body packs in."
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