Few comedians in the UK inspire the same warmth as Bob Mortimer. Whether he’s swapping absurd fishing stories with Paul Whitehouse or telling outrageous lies on Would I Lie to You?, Bob Mortimer has built a career on gentle chaos and genuine charm. This article looks at his early life, his rise with Vic Reeves, his family, his health struggles, and what Bob Mortimer is worth today.
Who Is Bob Mortimer?
Robert Renwick Mortimer, known professionally as Bob Mortimer, was born on 23 May 1959 in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. He trained as a solicitor before an unlikely detour into comedy changed the course of his life entirely. Today, Bob Mortimer is recognised as one of Britain’s most distinctive comic voices, known for surreal humour that never relies on cruelty or shock value.
His journey from council solicitor to national treasure is unusual, and that’s part of why people remain so curious about him. Fans want to know about Bob Mortimer young, his family life, and how his fortune has grown across four decades in entertainment.
Bob Mortimer Young: Early Life and Background
Long before the fame, Bob Mortimer young was a shy boy growing up in Middlesbrough, the youngest of several brothers. He has described feeling like an outsider in a boisterous household, watching his older siblings from the sidelines rather than commanding attention himself.
A defining, painful moment came early: his father died in a car accident when Bob was just seven years old. That loss shaped much of his outlook, something he later explored candidly in his memoir, And Away…
A few key facts about Bob Mortimer young worth noting:
- He attended school in Middlesbrough and was a keen footballer, even trialling for a local club.
- Early-onset rheumatoid arthritis eventually ended his footballing ambitions.
- He studied law at the University of Sussex, later qualifying as a solicitor and working for Southwark Council in London.
- He played bass in a punk band called Dog Dirt during his university years, a detail that surprises many fans.
It was in London, almost by accident, that Bob Mortimer’s second act began. He started attending a pub gig where a performer called Vic Reeves was doing strange, anarchic comedy, and Bob became a regular heckler from the crowd. That relationship would define the rest of his career.
The Rise of Reeves and Mortimer
Vic Reeves eventually invited Bob Mortimer on stage, and the pairing clicked instantly. Together, they created Vic Reeves Big Night Out, a show unlike anything British television had seen, full of invented characters, non-sequiturs and deadpan absurdity.
The duo’s momentum built through the 1990s with The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, and then their most famous creation: Shooting Stars. The panel show became a cult phenomenon, prized for its nonsensical scoring system and Bob Mortimer’s unmistakably strange comic delivery.
This period cemented Bob Mortimer as a genuine innovator in British comedy, someone who helped move humour away from traditional stand-up structures towards something looser and stranger.
Bob Mortimer Movies and TV Shows
Fans researching Bob Mortimer movies and TV shows will find a career that stretches well beyond his partnership with Vic Reeves. Here’s a breakdown of his most notable credits:
| Show/Film | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Reeves Big Night Out | TV | Launched his career, Channel 4 |
| Shooting Stars | TV | Cult panel show, ran across multiple decades |
| Catterick | TV | Surreal sitcom co-written with Vic Reeves |
| House of Fools | TV | Sitcom, further Reeves collaboration |
| Would I Lie to You? | TV | Long-running panel show appearances |
| Taskmaster | TV | Guest contestant appearance |
| Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing | TV | Documentary series with Paul Whitehouse |
| Athletico Mince | Podcast | Football-themed comedy podcast with Andy Dawson |
Among these, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing deserves special mention. It began as a simple fishing show but evolved into something more reflective, with both men discussing serious health issues, mortality and friendship between casts. It introduced Bob Mortimer to an entirely new audience who may not have grown up with Shooting Stars.
His voice work also deserves recognition: he voiced Father Nicholas in the animated series Popetown, one of several projects showing his range beyond sketch comedy.
Bob Mortimer Wife and Family Life
Many people search specifically for Bob Mortimer wife details, and his personal story here is genuinely moving. He married Lisa Matthews in October 2015, after being together as a couple for over two decades. What makes the wedding remarkable is its timing.
Bob had been told, only days before, that he needed emergency triple heart bypass surgery due to severely blocked arteries. Rather than delay, the couple married in a hospital ceremony roughly half an hour before he went into surgery. Special permission was required from the registrar to bypass the usual notice period, supported by a medical report confirming how serious his condition was.
It was a small, private affair. As Bob has described it, the wedding involved just him, Lisa, and their two children in the registry office, nothing more elaborate than that.
Bob Mortimer Sons
When it comes to Bob Mortimer sons, he and Lisa have two boys together, Harry and Tom, who were present at that hurried hospital wedding. Some sources also reference an older son, Emilio, from an earlier relationship, though Bob has kept most details about his children’s lives out of the public eye, preferring to protect their privacy despite his own fame.
This instinct towards privacy around family is consistent with how Bob Mortimer generally conducts himself. Even as a well-known public figure, he rarely uses his children as material, something that stands out in an industry where family life is often heavily publicised.
Health Struggles and Resilience
Bob Mortimer’s health has been a recurring theme in his public life. The 2015 heart bypass was a genuine near-miss, with arteries reportedly around 95 percent blocked. He has spoken candidly about how close he came to disaster, and how the experience reshaped his outlook on life.
More recently, he has discussed further health setbacks, including a bout of shingles that temporarily affected his mobility while filming Gone Fishing. Rather than hide these struggles, Bob Mortimer has used them as material, weaving them into his memoir and his conversations with Paul Whitehouse in a way that feels honest rather than performative.
This openness has arguably deepened public affection for him. Audiences don’t just laugh with Bob Mortimer; many feel genuine warmth towards him because of how honestly he discusses vulnerability.
Bob Mortimer Net Worth
So, what is Bob Mortimer net worth today? Estimates vary depending on the source, generally placing his wealth somewhere between £4 million and £8 million, built up over nearly four decades of television, writing, podcasting and book royalties.
Several income streams have contributed to Bob Mortimer net worth over the years:
- Television work – decades of BBC and Channel 4 appearances, from Shooting Stars to Would I Lie to You?
- Writing – his memoir And Away… was a commercial success and critical hit.
- Podcasting – Athletico Mince has built a loyal paying audience through live shows and merchandise.
- Production – he co-owns Pett Productions alongside Vic Reeves, which has produced numerous shows over the years.
- Gone Fishing – the show’s popularity has added a newer, steady revenue stream later in his career.
Unlike comedians who rely on one big breakout moment, Bob Mortimer’s net worth reflects consistent, varied work rather than a single windfall. That’s arguably a more sustainable model, and it mirrors his overall approach to his career: steady, understated, built on genuine craft rather than chasing trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bob Mortimer still working with Vic Reeves? Yes, though less frequently than in previous decades, the pair remain close friends and occasional collaborators through Pett Productions.
What illness does Bob Mortimer have? He has rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosed relatively young, and underwent a triple heart bypass in 2015 following a serious cardiac scare.
Does Bob Mortimer have children? Yes, he has two sons with his wife Lisa Matthews, named Harry and Tom, with some sources also referencing an older son from a previous relationship.
Final Thoughts
Bob Mortimer’s story is one of quiet reinvention: from shy Middlesbrough schoolboy to solicitor, to one half of one of Britain’s most inventive comedy duos, to a beloved television personality in his own right. His honesty about family, health and personal struggle has only strengthened the public’s affection for him.
For anyone wanting to understand modern British comedy, Bob Mortimer’s career offers a masterclass in longevity built on authenticity rather than reinvention for its own sake. If you haven’t already, catching up on Gone Fishing or picking up his memoir is a genuinely rewarding way to get to know the real Bob Mortimer beyond the headlines.
