Comedian Bob Mortimer shared a “sad” update on the Gone Fishing favourite’s health.
17:33, 29 Nov 2025Updated 17:33, 29 Nov 2025
Bob Mortimer shared a “sad” update (Image: BBC)
Bob Mortimer has shared a “sad” update on his beloved Gone Fishing co-star, their dog Ted. The comedian has fronted the beloved BBC programme with Paul Whitehouse since 2018.
Over that period, with the eighth series currently airing, Ted has frequently joined them, but during an appearance on Saturday Kitchen today, (29 November), Bob shared a concerning update.
When host Matt Tebbutt asked how Ted was doing, Bob jokingly put on a voice, imitating: “I’m alright mate.”
He then added: “No, he’s knocking on a bit.”
Bob revealed Ted was 15 years old, saying: “He still loves coming out with us, and he seems very happy.”
“I was quite sad when I saw him being wheeled around,” Matt replied.
Bob continued: “He doesn’t have to be wheeled around all the time, but for longer journeys, up the river bank, we put him in a pram now.”
Teasing the final episode of Gone Fishing, Bob went on to say “it’s a beauty,” adding: “It’s odd that people like it so much, but I kind of get it.
“We make the UK look really pretty – it’s nice to be reminded occasionally.”
This comes after Bob addressed his own health, revealing he’s ignored doctor’s orders to cut back on cheese after suffering a health scare.
The 66-year-old admitted he would rather “have three years less” than change his diet after having a triple heart bypass surgery.
Bob underwent the operation in 2015 after thinking he was suffering from a chest infection, and he later discovered 95% of his arteries were blocked.
He had been warned by his doctor that he would have had a heart attack on stage, and was forced to cancel tour dates with comedy partner Vic Reeves.
Despite the scare, he’s willing to take risks when it comes to giving up one of his favourite foods, telling The Daily Mail: “The dietitian said, ‘You can have a matchbox-size [piece] every week’.
“That broke my heart. There are probably those who do stick to it, but I’m probably in the school of thought that I’d rather have three years less.”
Last year, Bob opened up about his health struggles after facing shingles, and having to use a wheelchair while filming Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
He revealed he “wasn’t very well” and had to be “looked after” by co-star Paul after he was left unable to walk due to a six-month battle with the condition.
He said: “I wasn’t very well and it made it a bit of a struggle but, as always, Paul looked after me and pulled me through.”
The Last One Laughing star went on to say that he was getting better, while trying to “grow muscle back”.
He previously shared: “I got a bit unlucky with it, I lost the use of one of my legs but it’s coming back now, I’m a bit limpy but I’m very grateful to be back up and going.”
Saturday Kitchen airs at 10am on BBC One and iPlayer.
Every college football team with a coaching vacancy wants the next Curt Cignetti. Maybe UCLA can land him.
He’s from the same school that Cignetti took to unprecedented heights before making Indiana a national power, and he’s doing similarly special things.
His name is Bob Chesney, and he was publicly identified by former Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel over the weekend as someone whom UCLA is targeting in a search that appears to be picking up considerable momentum.
If that’s true — and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t, based on Neuheisel’s connections and similar things heard by The Times from others close to the coaching search — then the Bruins might be among the Chesney suitors on the cusp of the coup of the coaching carousel.
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Chesney has a profile similar to Cignetti’s. He won big at the Division III, Division II and Football Championship Series levels before taking over at James Madison prior to last season. All he’s done with the Dukes is guide them to a 9-4 record and Boca Raton Bowl victory in Year 1 before putting them on the fringes of College Football Playoff contention with a 9-1 start in Year 2.
He’s relatively young at 48 and has a dynamic presence. Go watch his introductory news conference at James Madison. Some descriptors that come to mind are driven, compassionate, gracious, humorous and principled.
“Transparency and communication are two very important things that every program needs to have,” Chesney said that day, providing a mantra that all organizations should embrace.
Chesney has the kind of personality that could land recruits, galvanize a fan base and drive donations at UCLA, even as someone who has spent his entire life on the East Coast.
Anyone who thinks that is an automatic disqualifier for the UCLA job doesn’t know history. Ever heard the name Red Sanders?
He was a North Carolina native who came to UCLA from Vanderbilt, going on to such massive success in Westwood that the Bruins still give out the Red Sanders Award to their most valuable player each year.
Chesney has to want to come to UCLA, of course, while also being pursued by others as his profile continues to rise, seemingly by the day. All it takes is one phone call from somebody else for even the best plans to get derailed. The surplus of coaching vacancies at Power Four schools and associated moves will make any pursuit a game of dominoes.
UCLA hasn’t hired a sitting head coach since Pepper Rodgers took the job before the 1971 season, leaving Kansas.
The last three times the Bruins made that move, it paid off handsomely. Rodgers went 19-12-1 over three seasons before departing for Georgia Tech, his alma mater. Tommy Prothro (previously at Oregon State) went 41-18-3 over six seasons before landing a job with the Rams. After leaving Vanderbilt, Sanders went 66-19-1 at UCLA, winning a share of the Bruins’ only national championship in 1954, before dying of a heart attack before the 1958 season.
If UCLA intends to go that route, other candidates that the search committee would be smart to consider include San Diego State’s Sean Lewis, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and South Florida’s Alex Golesh. Washington’s Jedd Fisch would be another attractive candidate if there was mutual interest, though Fisch’s reported $10-million buyout that doesn’t drop to $6 million until January — long after the Bruins want to have their coach in place — may be prohibitive.
Luke Duncan throws a pass against Ohio State in the second half.
(Jay LaPrete / Associated Press)
With UCLA missing its starting quarterback against the nation’s top-ranked team, a 48-10 loss to Ohio State was entirely predictable.
Quarterbacks: B. Given the circumstances, Luke Duncan filled in admirably for Nico Iamaleava, showing plenty of potential once he was able to sling the ball in the second half.
Running backs: C-. It could have been worse considering the Buckeyes knew the Bruins would rely heavily on the run. Jaivian Thomas, Jalen Berger, Anthony Woods and Anthony Frias II combined for 55 yards and averaged 2.75 yards per carry.
Wide receivers/tight ends: B. Rico Flores II and Kwazi Gilmer each made a big catch, but Gilmer was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at a time his team was losing 27-0.
Offensive line: B+. These guys didn’t give up a sack even with veteran guard Garrett DiGiorgio sidelined by a back injury and right tackle Reuben Unije leaving the game because of another injury.
Defensive line: C+. There’s little shame in getting outclassed by one of the nation’s top offensive lines.
Linebackers: B. Jalen Woods recorded the team’s first sack since the Michigan State game more than a month ago.
Defensive backs: C. Didn’t make much of an impression outside of Cole Martin getting hurdled on a touchdown run.
Special teams: D. Mateen Bhaghani did his thing, making another field goal, but giving up a 100-yard kickoff return was unacceptable.
Coaching: C. Somewhat understandably, Tim Skipper & Co. unveiled a game plan so conservative that it might appear on the GOP ticket for midterm elections in 2026.
Olympic sport the week: Men’s water polo
Frederico Jucá Carsalade looks to pass against USC.
(UCLA)
They got it done.
In a rematch they badly wanted to win, the UCLA Bruins edged rival USC on Saturday to win the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s water polo title.
With two goals in the final two minutes, including a go-ahead goal from Ryder Dodd with 1:09 left, the visiting Bruins rallied for an epic 14-13 victory over the Trojans, avenging a loss to their rivals from earlier in the season.
From left, Trey Doten, Max Matthews, Marcell Szécsi, Nick Tovani, and Wade Sherlock cheer against USC.
(UCLA)
Dodd finished with four goals for UCLA (22-1), which earned the top seeding in the MPSF tournament at Stanford’s Avery Aquatics Center. The Bruins will face either eighth-seeded Penn State Behrend or ninth-seeded Connecticut College on Friday afternoon in their opening game.
Opinion time
Which possible football coaching candidate excites you most?
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