Bob Mortimer

Bob Mortimer — Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

A deep dive into the life and humour of Bob Mortimer: his early years, comedy partnership with Vic Reeves, his evolution as a solo personality, novels, health struggles, famous quotes, and enduring legacy.

Introduction

Bob Mortimer is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter whose surreal wit, gentle absurdity, and charm have made him a beloved figure in British entertainment. Born on 23 May 1959 in Middlesbrough, he rose from working as a solicitor to forming one of the most distinctive comedy duos in the UK: Reeves & Mortimer. Over decades, his humour has spanned sketch shows, panel games, memoirs, and even novels. Today, Mortimer resonates not just as a funny man, but as someone whose personal story—of health, grief, reinvention—adds depth to every punchline and anecdote.

Early Life and Family

Robert Renwick Mortimer was born on 23 May 1959 in Middlesbrough, England.

A pivotal tragedy struck early: when Bob was seven, his father died in a car crash.

From a young age, Mortimer also battled rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that would follow him throughout his life.

In school, he attended King’s Manor School in Middlesbrough, where one of his contemporaries was sports presenter Ali Brownlee.

Youth and Education

Mortimer completed his schooling with three A-Levels.

After obtaining his law qualifications (including an LL.M. in Welfare Law), he moved to London to practice as a solicitor.

One remarkable anecdote he recounts: a former client mugged him on the street, only stopping when he recognized Mortimer. Mortimer nevertheless continued representing him.

Despite a promising legal career, Mortimer was increasingly drawn to comedic performance and absurd humor—interests that would soon overtake his professional life.

Career and Achievements

Partnership with Vic Reeves

Bob Mortimer’s turning point came in 1986, when he attended a performance by Vic Reeves (real name Jim Moir) at the Goldsmiths Tavern in New Cross, London.

Their first show as collaborators took shape in the Goldsmiths Tavern and later at the Albany Empire in Deptford. Vic Reeves Big Night Out, showcasing a mix of surreal sketches, bizarre characters, and musical interludes.

Their big leap came in television. In 1989, Reeves and Mortimer made their TV debut on One Hour with Jonathan Ross, and later that year got a TV pilot for Vic Reeves Big Night Out.

Over the 1990s, Reeves & Mortimer developed a string of cult shows:

• The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer (1993)

• Shooting Stars (1995 onward) — a comedy panel show that became one of their signature works.

• Bang Bang, It’s Reeves and Mortimer (1999)

• Catterick (2004) — a dark, surreal sitcom featuring both men in lead roles.

• Later, House of Fools (2013 onwards) revived their sketch/character interplay for a new generation.

In polls and retrospectives, Reeves & Mortimer have been highly honored. In a 2005 poll The Comedian’s Comedian, they were voted the 9ᵗʰ greatest comedy act ever by their peers.

Their comedy style is often described as combining absurd, visually inventive humor with slapstick, improvisation, and a kind of “surreal logic.”

Next, Mortimer expanded beyond the duo format into solo, collaborative, and more introspective work.

Solo Work, Appearances, and Late Career

Over time, Mortimer became more visible on his own:

• He became a frequent guest on panel shows, especially Would I Lie to You?, appearing many times.

• In 2017, he participated in Taskmaster (Series 5) and won the competition.

• He returned in Taskmaster: Champion of Champions, though without matching the same success.

• Beginning in 2018, he co-hosts with Paul Whitehouse the gentle, reflective series Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, where the two friends travel around the UK, fish, and talk about life, health, grief, and memories.

• In 2025, Mortimer starred in and won the first series of LOL: Last One Laughing UK.

Besides television and comedy, Mortimer has branched into writing:

• His 2021 autobiography And Away... reflects on his life, career, health, and emotional journey.

• In 2022, he published his first novel, The Satsuma Complex (released in the U.S. as The Clementine Complex). Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic fiction in 2023.

• In 2024, he released The Hotel Avocado, a whimsical sequel to Satsuma.

Historical Milestones & Context

Bob Mortimer’s career occupies a transformation period in British comedy. The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of alternative and surreal comedy, and Reeves & Mortimer positioned themselves as distinct even within that movement. Their oddball sketches, prop-driven gags, and sly absurdity set them apart from more observational or political comedians.

They also pushed the boundaries of what TV sketch/comedy could look like—combining stand-up, characters, music, rapid-fire banter, and visual gags. Their work influenced later surreal and cult comedians in the UK.

As Mortimer’s later work (especially Gone Fishing) demonstrates, he shifted from pure absurdity toward a more contemplative, character-driven space—balancing humour and melancholy, exploring mortality, relationships, and longing. That transition reflects broader changes in British television and the appetite for “slow TV” or conversational shows that blend insight with entertainment.

His emergence as a novelist in later life also fits into a trend of comedians or entertainers turning to fiction to explore deeper themes beyond jokes, using voice, metaphor, and narrative, rather than punchlines alone.

Legacy and Influence

Bob Mortimer’s influence in British comedy (and beyond) can be seen in several dimensions:

1. Comedic Voice: His style—quiet, whimsical, generous, and surreal—offers an alternative to loud or abrasive comedy. He shows that humour can be subtle, odd, and emotionally resonant.

2. Longevity: Mortimer has sustained relevance across decades. From the 1980s to 2025, he has continued to reinvent himself and find new audiences, whether through panel shows, books, or gentle shows like Gone Fishing.

3. Vulnerability & Depth: He has allowed his personal struggles—health, grief, anxiety, the weight of mortality—to inform his public persona. This has let his work connect more deeply with audiences who see laughter not as escape, but as part of living.

4. Inspiring Late Bloomers: His later turn to fiction suggests it’s never too late to try something new. He reminds artists and audiences that reinvention is part of a long career.

5. Collaborative Spirit: His friendship and creative partnership with Vic Reeves is legendary, but later, his friendship with Paul Whitehouse demonstrates his capacity to collaborate meaningfully at different life stages.

Mortimer’s legacy is not just in jokes or shows, but in the idea that comedy can carry weight, warmth, and humanity without sacrificing weirdness.

Personality and Talents

Bob Mortimer is often described as shy, introspective, generous, and whimsical. He has spoken publicly about crippling shyness until roughly age 30, which receded somewhat after he found success.

His humour is not built on aggressive insult or shock; rather, he leans on absurdity, timing, innocent weirdness, surprise, and emotional undertow. He often plays the "everyman" confronted by strange, random situations. Critics and fans often characterize him as a “serious surrealist.”

Beyond comedy, Mortimer shows several creative talents:

• Writing: He has proved himself as a novelist with award-winning work.

• Storytelling: Both in his memoir and on shows like Gone Fishing, his storytelling ability—of anecdote, memory, food, relationships—is central to his appeal.

• Emotional Depth: He can toggle between laughter and melancholy with ease, acknowledging loss, health fragility, and friendship.

• Improvisation & Collaboration: In sketches and panel shows, his capacity to respond, riff, or play off others is a core strength.

Famous Quotes of Bob Mortimer

Here are some quotes that capture his humour, outlook, and tone:

“I was never good enough to write proper punchlines.”
— reflecting on his style of humour and embracing the surreal rather than conventional joke structure

“We were weird before weirdness became a brand.”
— a nod to how Reeves & Mortimer always skirted the edge of absurdity

“I wrecked the family fortunes by burning down mum’s uninsured house.”
— a candid, self-deprecating reflection from his youth

“I was a very shy lad, so I got that little gift and became a completely different person.”
— from his commentary on The Satsuma Complex about channeling transformation and reinvention

Other lesser-documented quotes occur in interviews, Desert Island Discs episodes, and more, reflecting his mix of absurd whimsy and internal reflection.

Lessons from Bob Mortimer

From Mortimer’s life and career, several lessons emerge:

1. Embrace your peculiarities. Mortimer turned health challenges, shyness, and odd ideas into creative fuel rather than liabilities.

2. Partnerships matter. His collaboration with Vic Reeves lasted decades. Mutual respect, shared curiosity, and tolerance of strangeness allowed them to innovate.

3. Reinvention is possible. Mortimer shifted from solicitor → comedian → memoirist → novelist—all while staying true to his voice.

4. Humour with heart. Comedy can be funny and emotionally truthful. Mortimer often lets grief, mortality, and longing drift through his work.

5. It’s okay to be late. Some of his boldest creative moves (novels, reflective TV shows) came later in life—not at the peak.

6. Gentleness has power. In a world of loud voices, his quiet surrealism and soft wit stand out and endure.

Conclusion

Bob Mortimer is much more than a comedian. He is a storyteller, a survivor, a perpetual experimenter whose humour carries both laughter and melancholy. From the ashes of youth and the loss of his father, through chronic illness and the rigors of public life, Mortimer has crafted a body of work that is weird, warm, and alive. His legacy reminds us that comedy need not always be sharp edges—it can be soft, strange, thoughtful, and deeply human.

If you enjoy his voice, I encourage you to read his memoir And Away..., explore The Satsuma Complex and The Hotel Avocado, or watch Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. And always keep an ear out—for in Mortimer’s world, a surprise punchline, a random thought, or a fishing trip can reveal more than you expect.

Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into a particular show or quote!