‘We put a stink bomb in Stephen Fry’s shoe’: Vic and Bob on the inspired idiocy of Shooting Stars

‘We weren’t allowed a horse in case it bolted’ … from left, Mark, Vic, Ulrika and Bob in 1996. Photograph: Maximum Film/Alamy

Bob Mortimer, writer, host

The first time I saw what was to become Shooting Stars was Vic Reeves – AKA Jim Moir – doing The Big Quiz during Vic Reeves Big Night Out live. I’d never seen anything like it. It was full of meaningless questions and had an attitude. I remember thinking: “There must be something we could do with that.”