Bob Mortimer reveals he’s ‘forgetting things’ as he opens up on health battle

Bob Mortimer has opened up about his health battle as he and Paul Whitehouse return to the BBC for a new series of Gone Fishing

Bob added one of the locations was extra special to him

As he makes his comeback to the BBC for a fresh series of Gone Fishing, Bob Mortimer has revealed details about his health struggles and explained how these new episodes differ from earlier seasons.

Bob explained: “I’m still suffering very much with recovering from shingles. I lost a lot of muscle, an awful lot of muscle in my legs, and I’m just desperately trying to get some strength back in them.

“But it doesn’t really, change my lifestyle or anything. I mean, I can’t run but I don’t do that much running these days, so it’s not a problem.”

The 66 year old Middlesbrough native continued: “Both me and Paul in the series are discussing the fact, quite a few times, that we’re beginning to feel our age.

Bob Mortimer ‘still suffering’ after losing ‘an awful lot of muscle’

“We’re not as fast, we’re not as strong, we’re forgetting things. We’re a bit more grumpy.”

“We look physically a lot different from the first seasons that’s for sure! We’ve aged. As has Ted!”

For this latest run of Gone Fishing, Bob revealed the comedy duo altered their strategy and have personally selected the destinations he and Paul Whitehouse visit, reports the Mirror.

Additionally, the pair have opted for lodgings that align with their cherished recollections. In the second episode, audiences will witness the comedy partnership spending the evening in a touring caravan.

Bob Mortimer is back on screens with Paul Whitehouse for a new series of Gone Fishing
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Bob mentioned one particular location held special significance for him as it provided an opportunity to reconnect with an old companion from his youth.

“My nostalgia trip took me back to Manchester and saw one of my oldest friends, Paddy, that I hadn’t seen for maybe 25 years or something, or even longer,” he remembered. “It was one of our most challenging fishing series. We didn’t perhaps catch as many as we would normally hope to, but we did get some Clonkers. We got a particularly beautiful carp in Wales.

“As always of course I cooked for Paul, he’s always very kind, and says he likes all the meals, but the meal I cooked in Manchester, I think he genuinely enjoyed – it was take away fish and chips – his best meal this series was venison, cooked on stones, in Findhorne, Scotland.

“And I thoroughly enjoyed cutting Paul’s hair this series. Turns out I’m maybe a better hairdresser than I am fisherman.”