Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse Express Concerns Over Future of 'Gone Fishing' Due to Health Issues

Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, stars of the BBC series Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, have disclosed that their health concerns are casting a shadow over the show's future. The duo, aged 67 and 68 respectively, spoke candidly about their ailments in a recent interview with The Sunday Times Culture.

Mortimer underwent emergency triple heart bypass surgery in 2015, while Whitehouse had three coronary stents fitted in the same year. These health scares were the catalyst for the creation of their show, which debuted in 2018. Mortimer's wife, Lisa Matthews, had suggested he go fishing with Whitehouse, fearing he was experiencing depression.

The series has since run for eight seasons. However, Mortimer expressed apprehension about their long-term capacity to continue, humorously warning, "If we did the show for long enough and became decrepit then one day we might catch a pike and the pike will drag us in." He added, "I don't mind ageing Paul, but I'd hate it if we couldn't come fishing any more and that's not far off." Whitehouse echoed these sentiments, stating, "There's no mucking about with heart issues. You are there and if you're not careful you're gone."

Mortimer reflected on his own health experiences, admitting he initially dismissed symptoms like breathlessness while playing football with his sons as merely signs of aging. He realized the severity of his condition during a pre-tour check-up, which led to a cardiologist informing him that some of his arteries were 95-98% blocked. He was told he likely would have died on stage if he had proceeded with his tour. The experience, he described, was initially overwhelming with fear, though he didn't dwell on the possibility of dying.

He credited Whitehouse with playing a crucial role in his mental recovery. "When you've had the operation – especially that big cut down your chest – you feel very vulnerable, even going out into the street," Mortimer explained. He noted that Whitehouse was the first person he opened up to about his recovery journey, apart from his wife. The quiet environment of fishing allowed for reflection and open conversations about their respective rehabilitation processes.

In addition to his heart condition, Mortimer experienced a significant health setback in 2022 when his rheumatoid arthritis returned after a 29-year absence. He later contracted shingles, which he described as a more intense experience than his heart problems.

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox.