Comic Bob Mortimer has told how the troubled health of his fishing show sidekick Paul Whitehouse has made him question his own mortality.
The stars of BBC2’s Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing have both had heart problems. Last year Bob had a triple bypass operation after being told 95 per cent of his arteries were blocked.
But it is the wellbeing of his close pal Paul, who had a health scare earlier this year, that makes him contemplate his future.
Speaking at the Bafta awards, Bob, 59, said: “We are getting on a bit and these things make you come to terms with that.”
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He added they both realise they have to “eat better, live better”.
But Paul, 60, who has experienced heart problems for years, has not cut out alcohol altogether. He said: “I’m not teetotal. You don’t have to do that.”
The former Fast Show star is now playing Grandad in West End show Only Fools And Horses: The Musical.
His heart problem forced him to take a break at the beginning of the run. He said: “I wasn’t very well for a little while early on but I’m OK now and loving it. It is a joy.”
Paul added: “Since the heart stuff I have done quite a lot of exercise. I stopped in the run-up to Only Fools which didn’t help really, but now I’m back on track.”
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Asked if he would like to stay on the West End stage, he said: “I may leave and come back. I’ve got to look after Bob. What we want is to go fishing. It’s what we love.”
The pair also enjoy football, but Tottenham Hotspurs fan Paul probably won’t travel to Madrid to see his side in the Champions League Final on June 1.
He said: “Do you know how much it is to stay for one night in Madrid? £5k. That’s just a hotel room. It’s a rip-off.”
