Bob Mortimer

Robert Renwick Mortimer (born 23 May 1959) is an English comedian, television presenter, writer and actor. He is one half of the comedy double act Reeves and Mortimer with Vic Reeves, and appears in the Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing series with Paul Whitehouse. He has appeared on TV panel shows such as Would I Lie to You? and Taskmaster.

Early life

Mortimer was born in Middlesbrough on 23 May 1959,<ref name="tees">Template:Cite web</ref> and grew up with three brothers in the town's Linthorpe area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His father died in a car crash when Mortimer was seven.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At around the same time, Mortimer accidentally burnt down his family's home with a firework.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> He attended King's Manor School in Middlesbrough,<ref name="tees"/> where his schoolmates included future sports presenter Ali Brownlee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A keen football fan, he had trials for local club Middlesbrough F.C., but abandoned his footballing dreams due to early-onset arthritis.

Mortimer left school with three A-Levels and went on to study law at the University of Sussex and University of Leicester.<ref name="tees"/> There, he became a punk, and started a band called Dog Dirt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After leaving university with an LL.M. in Welfare Law, he moved to London and became a solicitor for Southwark Council.<ref name="tees"/> He then moved to a private practice in Peckham, where his work with Public Health Act cases regarding cockroach infestations of council properties led to a local paper, the South London Press, dubbing him "The Cockroach King".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> According to his autobiography, he was mugged during this time by one of his clients, who stopped and apologised after recognising him; he continued to represent the client.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

Partnership with Vic Reeves

Template:Main In 1986, Mortimer went to the Goldsmiths Tavern in New Cross, London, to see a new show by the comedian Vic Reeves.<ref name="tees"/> Mortimer was impressed by the performance, particularly the character Tappy Lappy, which was Reeves attempting to tap dance while wearing a Bryan Ferry mask and planks on his feet. Mortimer approached Reeves after the show, and the two began writing material for the next week's show together. They also became good friends and formed a band, the Potter's Wheel. Mortimer began to perform on the show, which was christened Vic Reeves Big Night Out, creating characters such as the Singing Lawyer, Graham Lister, Judge Nutmeg and the Man With the Stick.

The show became successful in South London and eventually outgrew Goldsmiths Tavern, moving in 1988 to the Albany Empire in Deptford. Mortimer soon became an integral part of the performance, providing him with a weekly break from his legal work, which had begun to disillusion him.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Reeves and Mortimer made their television debut on the short-lived 1989 comedy chat show One Hour with Jonathan Ross, in the game show segment known as "Knock down ginger". Later that year, the duo made their first television pilot together, Vic Reeves Big Night Out. The television show remained true to the nightclub act's variety show format. Mortimer took a 10-week break from his legal job to record the series and never returned.

The two later created a one-off pilot for a sitcom called The Weekenders in 1992, followed by the sketch show The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer in 1993, and Shooting Stars, a comedy panel show that first aired in December 1993. After being commissioned, Shooting Stars ran for five series between 1995 and 2002, with a special anniversary edition broadcast in December 2008. A sixth series was broadcast in late 2009, followed by a seventh series in mid-2010, and an eighth in 2011.

In 1999, Reeves and Mortimer appeared in a second sketch show called Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer. A year later, Mortimer played the part of Jeff Randall in Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), opposite Reeves as Marty Hopkirk and Emilia Fox as Jeannie Hurst.

In 2003, Mortimer and Reeves were listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a 2005 poll to find the Comedians' Comedian, the duo were voted the 9th greatest comedy act of all time by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2004, Mortimer and Reeves wrote and starred in Catterick, a six-episode surreal comedy about an ex-soldier, Carl, who returns home from serving in Cyprus to join his brother Chris, who has agreed to help find Carl's son. Cast included Reece Shearsmith, Matt Lucas, Morwenna Banks, Tim Healy, Mark Benton and Charlie Higson.

Bob Mortimer in February 2010

On 17 November 2007, Mortimer appeared as Reeves' hairdresser, Carl, in the weekly radio sketch show on BBC Radio 2 entitled Vic Reeves' House Arrest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 27 February 2008, Reeves announced that he and Mortimer were working together on a new sitcom about superheroes who get their powers through a malfunctioning telegraph pole.<ref name="Journal">Template:Cite news</ref>

In November 2013, Reeves and Mortimer filmed episodes of a new BBC sitcom, House of Fools, also featuring Matt Berry (as Beef), Morgana Robinson (as Julie) and Dan Skinner (as Bosh).

In October 2015, the pair cancelled the first leg of their live tour, 25 Year of Reeves and Mortimer: The Poignant Moments, after Mortimer underwent an emergency triple heart bypass.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 29 December 2017, Mortimer and Reeves starred in a relaunch and new singular episode of their comedy Big Night Out for the BBC. The show has been remade and subsequently renamed to Vic and Bob's Big Night Out. The episode remained true to the classic Big Night Out formula and was composed of various comedy songs, skits, characters and sketches. This was the first time the Big Night Out series had featured Mortimer's name in the title. A full series of Vic and Bob's Big Night Out began on BBC Four in November 2018.

Solo career and appearances

In 1997, in collaboration with Chris Rea, Mortimer recorded Rea's hit "Let's Dance" with his favourite football team, Middlesbrough. The single reached No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1996–97, Mortimer appeared on an episode of Mash and Peas with Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Reece Shearsmith, in a sketch spoofing Seinfeld, called I'm Bland... yet all my friends are krazy!. From 1996 to 2011 Mortimer voiced the animated bulldog in adverts for Churchill Insurance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Churchill's "Oh, yes!" catchphrase is believed to be an impersonation of Potter the Janitor (played by Deryck Guyler) from the television series of the 1970s, Please Sir!.<ref name="plsir">Template:Cite web</ref> Older adverts had Mortimer's voice responding to questions posed by his comedy partner, Vic Reeves. In April 2005, however, Reeves was removed from the adverts, after he was convicted of drink-driving.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In July 2002, Mortimer fought and defeated Les Dennis on points, in the BBC's first Celebrity Boxing match, as part of Sport Relief 2002.<ref name="boxing">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, Mortimer presented the Channel 4 list show The 100 Greatest World Cup Moments of All Time! An updated show, again hosted by Mortimer, was broadcast by the channel in 2010, to coincide with the 2010 FIFA World Cup.Template:Citation needed Mortimer produced and presented the second match, The Fight, a year later, which saw Grant Bovey versus Ricky Gervais.Template:Citation needed In 2005, Mortimer hosted his first major TV series without Reeves, a comedy panel game for BBC One, called 29 Minutes of Fame, which featured regular guests such as Jo Brand.Template:Citation needed

Also in 2005, Mortimer voiced the character of Father Nicholas in the animated BBC Three series Popetown. The show was not broadcast by the channel, for fear of offending Catholic viewers, though it saw a DVD release later that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mortimer co-wrote the BBC Three sketch comedy Tittybangbang with Jill Parker. The programme starred Lucy Montgomery and Debbie Chazen, with Tony Way, and ran for three series between 2006 and 2007.Template:Citation needed

Mortimer appeared on BBC Two's Never Mind the Buzzcocks on four occasions – in 1996, on Sean Hughes' team; in 2000, on Phill Jupitus's team; in 2008, as a guest team captain; and in 2012, as a guest host.Template:Citation needed In April 2010, Mortimer appeared on the Sky1 panel show A League of Their Own, on Andrew Flintoff's team.Template:Citation needed

Mortimer has been a regular guest panellist on the BBC1 quiz show Would I Lie to You? since 2012, having appeared in twelve episodes up to the 2024/5 series. He has since stated that his appearances on this show have given him more recognition than any of his previous work.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2013, Mortimer appeared on an episode of Ross Noble Freewheeling.Template:Citation needed

Also in 2013, Mortimer played Frank in the E4 sitcom Drifters.Template:Citation needed On 18 June 2014, Mortimer appeared on an episode of the Dave show, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled.Template:Citation needed On 4 March 2015, he appeared in Let's Play Darts, but lost out to Roisin Conaty.Template:Citation needed In 2015, he appeared in an episode of Celebrity Squares alongside Vic Reeves.Template:Citation needed In April 2015, Mortimer took over from the late Rik Mayall as Bombardier Bedford, the mascot of Wells Bombardier Beer.Template:Citation needed

Since March 2016, Mortimer has written and co-hosted regular comedy podcast, Athletico Mince, alongside Andy Dawson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mortimer has appeared on numerous episodes of the Sky1 comedy panel game Duck Quacks Don't Echo, hosted by his regular Would I Lie to You? team captain, Lee Mack.Template:Citation needed In 2017, Mortimer competed in and won series 5 of Taskmaster against Aisling Bea, Sally Phillips, Nish Kumar and Mark Watson. He then competed in the Taskmaster: Champion of Champions series against Noel Fielding, Josh Widdicombe, Katherine Ryan and Rob Beckett, coming last.Template:Citation needed

In June and July 2018, Mortimer teamed up with his longtime friend and fellow comedian, Paul Whitehouse, in a BBC2 six part comedy series, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. The two friends, who have both suffered from heart conditions, shared their thoughts and experiences while fishing at a variety of locations around the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Six series of the programme have aired to date; a book was released in 2020,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> series 4 and Christmas specials aired in 2021 and 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> On 3 February 2019, Mortimer appeared on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 25 August 2021, Mortimer appeared on episode 116 of the food and comedy podcast Off Menu, hosted by comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His dream menu was an Odeon Cinema hotdog as a starter, with ketchup and mustard, swirled by his own finger. Main course was a "perfect vindaloo" with poppadoms and chips. Side dish was a shallow fried turbot. His chosen drink was a citrus IPA served at minus 20 degrees. Dessert was a syrup sponge pudding and custard, made by his wife. He was allowed to have a Boost baguette and a cube of frozen custard on his way home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2021, Mortimer released an autobiography titled And Away....<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mortimer wrote The Satsuma Complex, a Sunday Times bestselling comic novel published in 2022.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> An audiobook was released, narrated by Mortimer and Sally Phillips.Template:Citation needed

In March 2025, Mortimer starred in and won the first series of LOL: Last One Laughing UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2025, it was announced he'd return to the show as a contestant again for the second series in 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Mortimer has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since childhood; he controls it with steroids.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During his appearance on Desert Island Discs, he revealed that he dealt with crippling shyness until the age of 30, which only began to improve after his initial television success; he also reflected on how his father's early death had shaped his personality, despite not realising how much this event had affected him as a child.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2015, Mortimer underwent triple bypass surgery, which led to the cancellation of the first leg of the Reeves and Mortimer 25 Years tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On the day of his hospital admission, he married Lisa Matthews, his girlfriend of 22 years, under a special marriage licence express from London. They have two sons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

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With Vic Reeves

Year	Title	Channel	Notes
1989	One Hour with Jonathan Ross	Channel 4	TV debut in "Knock Down Ginger" segment
1990–1991	Vic Reeves Big Night Out
1992	The Weekenders		Pilot
1993	Reeves and Mortimer's Driving School	BBC Two	45 Min. Video
1993–1995	The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer		Sketch show 2 series, 12 episodes
1995–1997, 2002, 2009–2011	Shooting Stars		Broadcast pilot in 1993 8 series, 72 episodes
1997	It's Ulrika!		One-off special
1999	Bang, Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer		1 series, 6 episodes
2000–2001	Randall & Hopkirk	BBC One	Acting only 2 series, 13 episodes
2004	Catterick	BBC Three	Sitcom 1 series, 6 episodes
	The All Star Comedy Show	ITV	2-part special
2005	Monkey Trousers		1 series, 6 episodes
	Star Chamber		Pilot, not commissioned
2014–2015	House of Fools	BBC Two	2 series, 13 episodes
2015	Celebrity Squares	ITV	Guest appearance
2017–2019	Vic and Bob's Big Night Out	BBC Two / BBC Four	One-off special, followed by 2 series. Totalling 9 episodes

Television

Year	Title	Role	Channel	Notes	Ref
1996	Mash and Peas		Channel 4	In the Seinfeld spoof sketch "I'm Bland... yet all my friends are krazy!"
1996, 2000, 2008, 2012	Never Mind the Buzzcocks	Guest panellist, guest team captain, guest presenter	BBC Two	Guest panellist in 1996 and 2000. Guest team captain in 2008. Guest presenter in 2012
2002	The 100 Greatest World Cup Moments of All Time!	Presenter	Channel 4	For the 2002 FIFA World Cup
	Celebrity Boxing for Sport Relief	Contestant	BBC One	Defeated Les Dennis in a charity match
2005	29 Minutes of Fame	Presenter		1 series, 6 episodes
	Popetown	Father Nicholas (voice)	BBC Three	Straight to DVD, the series was not broadcast due to offensive content.
2005–2007	Tittybangbang			Sketch Show Co-creator and co-writer with Jill Parker. Director for series 3
2010	The 100 Greatest World Cup Moments of All Time!		Channel 4	Updated version for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
	A League of Their Own	Guest panellist
2012	Would I Lie to You?	Guest panellist	BBC One	Guest panellist 12 appearances, the most of any guest
2013	Ross Noble Freewheeling	Self	Dave
2013–2016	Drifters	Frank	E4	Supporting role, 11 episodes
2013–2019	8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown	Self	Channel 4	8 episodes
2014	Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled	Guest	Dave
2014–2016	Duck Quacks Don't Echo	Guest panellist	Sky One	4 appearances
2015	Let's Play Darts	Contestant	BBC Two	On a team with professional darts player Andy Fordham
2017	Taskmaster	Contestant	Dave	Series 5 champion Contestant in two-part Champion of Champions special
2018–present	Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing	Self	BBC Two	7 series broadcast	<ref name=":2" />
2019	Travel Man	Self	Channel 4
2025–2026	LOL: Last One Laughing UK	Self	Amazon Prime Video	Series 1 champion Series 2 contestant

Bibliography

Year	Title	Type	Ref
2019	Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021	And Away...	Autobiography	<ref name=":0" />
2022	The Satsuma Complex (released as 'The Clementine Complex' in U.S.)	Novel	<ref name=":1" />
2024	The Hotel Avocado	Novel	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	The Long Shoe	Novel	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

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