Bob Mortimer, the comedian who rose to fame in the ‘90s as part of a comedy double act with Vic Reeves, has spoken out about his current poor health. In 2015, Mortimer underwent triple heart bypass surgery after 95% of his arteries were found to be blocked. He also fell ill in 2022 after filming an episode of the BBC2 show Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, causing him to miss the following episode.
Mortimer has revealed in a recent interview that he has also been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, after having suffered from the condition in his mid-20s. Furthermore, he contracted shingles in 2023 which resulted in “a very, very, very unhealthy year”. The viral skin condition caused him to lose the use of several muscles. “The muscles I’ve lost, I’ve lost,” he said. “But other ones can compensate for it, you know what I mean?”
The comedian has described the shingles as worse than his heart period. He believes he may no longer be able to go for runs and has a “terrible feeling” about it. Mortimer’s doctor had warned him that he was at risk of a heart attack on stage, so the triple bypass surgery was a life-changing procedure. Mortimer reflected on this in an interview with the Big Issue in 2018: “When I came home from being told I had to have heart surgery, it felt so dramatic. You think it is over.”
The concept of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing first came about when Mortimer was recovering from the heart bypass surgery. The show has been a success, with six seasons already aired and a seventh season to be released later in 2024. Mortimer serves as an inspiration to many, including those with health conditions
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