EXCLUSIVE: Paul and Bob Mortimer are back with a new series and this time Pauls’s cut out all sugar, while Bob’s joined a gym
As Gone Fishing returns for its ninth run – including one final episode featuring Ted the dog – Paul Whitehouse has revealed he’s been forced to give up sugar after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
And his sidekick Bob Mortimer has also made some lifestyle changes since the last series aired, after taking up a gym membership.
Fast Show star Paul, 68, said he’d limited his booze intake and embarked on a healthy eating diet since being told that his blood sugars were too high. “ I sort of was diagnosed that I’ve crept into Type 2 diabetes area,” he said. “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.”
Bob, 67, admits he’s astonished because Paul 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.
Remembering the night in question, Paul said he was desperate. “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.”
Not to be outdone, Bob says he’s started going to the gym – but Paul laughs when he admits he has only been once because he hurt his toe on the very first visit. “ You’ve been styling it out like you’re there every day in, day out, with ‘kettlebell this’ and all that.”
Bob argued that he’s confusing two different things. “ I’ve got my kettlebells and weights at home, and I sit watching the telly doing exercises. I’ve really been working on it.”
The duo, who filmed the latest series of Gone Fishing earlier this year, also spoke fondly of their TV dog Ted the terrier who died in April. Ted, owned by the show’s executive producer Lisa Clark, would always accompany them on their fishing trips.
Bob 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.”
Paul agreed: “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.”
This time around they have a celebrity guest from Inside No 9 while filming on the banks of the River Tees.. “Do you know what was a really nice highlight?” Bob said. “Having Reece Shearsmith come along with all his ghostly stories.”
The pair put the show’s continued success down to fact that they’ve stuck with the original format – to help themselves overcome their health issues thanks to relaxed fishing and healthy food. Bob 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..”
The food highlight of the new series, according to Paul, is another simple delight. “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, BBC2 & iPlayer, Sunday, 9pm
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