Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (S01-S04 complete) (1280x720p HD, 50fps, soft Eng subs)

Two friends, beautiful places and a good natter. Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse go on a life-affirming, funny journey, sharing their changed outlooks and trying to land a catch.

Series One

Lifelong friends and comedic royalty Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer have more in common than just their love of laughter - on a more serious note, they have both suffered complex heart disease. Paul is an experienced fisherman, Bob a complete novice. Paul thought a tour of the country's finest fishing spots might help Bob's recovery, and along the way maybe they would learn something about each other. In this funny and poignant six-part series, we eavesdrop on their expedition as they reconnect with each other and share their personal experiences of life, while testing the parameters of true friendship. They also fish, and talk nonsense. A lot. On soggy riverbanks, they candidly discuss everything from show business to solitude, relationships and romance, while trying to catch some of the most significant species of fish in the country. This is as much an insight into the hearts and minds of two of the UK's best-loved comics as it is about capturing the extreme exhilaration and occasional monotony of one of the most popular pastimes in the UK.

E01
While in Norfolk fishing for tench, Bob tries to impress Paul with his childhood fishing rod - and fails. They share nostalgia for their younger years and reveal how they recently came face to face with their own mortality. After a brief respite in a local brewery, they reluctantly camp down in yurts before fishing again the next day where the elusive tench seems to evade them until the very last minute.


E02
Paul and Bob fish for the mighty barbel in Hay-on-Wye. Passing a graveyard, they muse about the future and chat to a local vicar about death, and their own funerals. To lighten the mood back in their wooden fishing cabin, Bob promises Paul a very special treat if they are successful in their angling efforts.

E03
In the beautiful Monsal Valley in Derbyshire, Paul teaches Bob how to fly-fish for wild rainbow trout. While fishing, they discuss their humble beginnings in show business and have a good gossip about their contemporaries. Bob cooks Paul his very personal recipe of 'tuna Melanie' on the river bank, and it soon transpires his cooking is a lot more successful than his fishing.

E04
Paul and Bob fish the beautiful river Wensum in search of the equally beautifully roach. Struggling up and down the riverbanks, they realise how age is starting to take its toll on their physicality. But Bob has a plan to help Paul recapture his youth.
They stay overnight in a disused train station and visit the local pub with Paul showing off his new look, courtesy of Bob.
They decide to challenge each other to a fishing competition where the winner gets a very special culinary treat, and be warned, their dinner table conversation is not for the faint hearted.

E05
Paul fishes at the famous Bridge Pool near Christchurch in Dorset, hoping to catch sea trout. Bob arrives late but redeems himself by hooking the first fish of the day. After a glorious morning, Paul persuades Bob to charter a boat out to sea in search of sea bass. Bob has a history of sea sickness and is not keen, but eventually they venture out to the Needles, where Paul makes an incredible catch. The fish is too big for Bob to handle, so they head off to a local restaurant to prepare it. Bob performs a small cameo as an irritating waiter.

E06
In this final episode, Paul and Bob decide to try and catch a legendary pike, which is perhaps not the best idea for two men of a certain age with heart problems.
In the cosy cottage where they are staying, they invite a consultant cardiologist for dinner to talk about their medical past and their future, gaining tips on how to live the most healthy life possible. Facing the future, they write a eulogy for each other as the sun sets on their final fishing expedition.

Series 2

E01
New series. Paul and Bob travel to the picturesque River Usk in Wales, where Paul’s father first taught him to fish as a young child. Their quarry is the wild brown trout. They discuss their respective childhoods and reflect on their own family lives. In their cosy cottage accommodation in the heart of the countryside they compare school photographs and Paul serenades Bob with his guitar.

E02
New series. Paul and Bob brave the wild lakes of Essex in search of the mighty carp. They have the latest high-tech equipment and are fully prepared to stay all night if they have to, to catch the biggest fish they can. They discuss the true meaning of a mid-life crisis and decide to visit a beauty clinic to see if there are any suitable treatments available to re-capture their youth. Bob reveals his secret recipe to make the perfect scrambled eggs but it is not the only thing which shocks Paul in this episode.

E03
Bob has harboured a childhood dream to catch a salmon, so he and Paul set off for the River Tay in Scotland full of hope and excitement for this special trip.
A ghillie guides them up the intimidating river in a boat, and they fish using various methods to catch the elusive fish. They discuss luck and fate and the part it has played in their lives. They stay in the heart of the highlands, where Bob cooks Paul a traditional Scottish breakfast and they set off for a swift round of golf before resuming their fishing. As the sun sets they reflect on their dreams – did they come true on this trip?

E04
Sitting side by side on the banks of the Upper Tamar Lakes, Paul and Bob fish for the predatory perch. Bob notices that Paul has far more superior seating which causes a momentary issue between the pair. The tables are turned when Bob reveals this week's accommodation which leaves Paul almost speechless. The following day they brave the open sea and have a very surprising catch - they celebrate in the only way possible in the south west of England. It is not particularly heart-healthy but it is very tasty!

E05
Paul and Bob fly to Enniskillen to fish for the pike which eluded them in series one. They take to the waters of Lough Erne in their search for this mighty fish, guided by the very experienced local Frenchman Pascal. They discuss their respective bad habits and Bob gives Paul a thorough health update, before they retire to a local hostelry to sample the traditional Irish refreshments. Paul demonstrates how to perform life-saving CPR and Bob gives Paul a glimpse into his future by telling his fortune in a traditional Irish manner.

E06
aul and Bob fish for the graceful grayling on the stunning River Ure in the heart of the Yorkshire dales. They talk about their plans for retirement, and Bob reveals his hopes and dreams for the future. Together they meet the surgeon who performed Bob’s life-saving heart bypass and re-enact all the drama of the operating table – in a local pub! In the evening Paul organises some entertainment while Bob struggles to cook a heart-healthy dinner to round off their trip.

Series 3

E01
In this first episode, Paul and Bob return to Scotland to fish for salmon once more - this time on the mighty River Tweed. After their agonising last-ditch attempt to catch a salmon on the River Tay in series two, this time around, Paul is determined to fulfil his promise to help Bob get his first salmon – a rite of passage for any angler. They start their search for a so-called bar of silver surrounded by banks of lush tall trees at the Bemersyde Estate, a place where it is easy to forget the outside world and do nothing but concentrate on fishing. Paul is intent on catching, and Bob is hopeful that his angling skills have improved since last time, but whether this is enough for them to hook a salmon is anyone’s guess. After a night in some beautifully renovated, traditional roulottes, rounded off with a campfire supper cooked by Bob, the next morning Paul gets some mystical predictions from a familiar character. They try a different beat on this day and visit the Bridge Pool at Kelso, arguably the most renowned salmon-fishing beat in Scotland. Today, they try boat fishing again, and the memory of the last time they were in Scotland fishing in a boat together spurs them on to try to not just hook but also land a salmon this time.
As Paul and Bob fish, the conversation takes a familiar yet comforting form. Punctuated with both laughter and moments of reflection, they exchange memories of their past lives and thoughts on their present and future selves. They discuss the things that they are grateful for, as well as thinking about what else they want to achieve. Is this the trip where Bob finally ticks ‘catch a salmon’ off his bucket list?

E02
Paul takes Bob on a trip down memory lane and back to the River Lea in Hertfordshire, where Paul used to come as a teenager with his mates. They would catch the train from north London to fish this network of rivers and canals that flow from Hertfordshire into the Thames, and just like when Paul was young, Paul and Bob fish for perch. They start their trip in a quiet and secluded stretch of the Lea. Paul gives Bob a copy of The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton, a 17th-century fishing guide that was written here in Hertfordshire on the Lea and takes the form of a conversation between a skilled angler and his apprentice. Drawing the obvious comparisons, Bob delves into the book over the course of the trip to see if any of its contents still ring true today. They agree they need to be stealthy on this stretch of river, and in hushed tones they chose a suitable spot and settle in. The whispered conversation turns to their teenage years, and they discuss their memories of school dinners, bands they were in and making friends. Bob has prepared Paul a riverside picnic inspired by his trips here when he was young – jam and banana sandwiches and crisps - bringing them both a Proustian rush of teenage, packed-lunch nostalgia. For this episode, Paul has invited a special guest along to the river – Feargal Sharkey, former lead singer of The Undertones turned angler and river conservationist, who fishes the River Lea regularly. As well as discussing their love of fishing, Paul reveals an amusing connection he has to Feargal, which could have seen his life turn out quite differently. Bob reveals their home for this trip will be a narrowboat, nestled in a quiet section of the canal, close to where they will fish the next day. Over a drink at the end of the day, Paul shares some teenage photos of him and his friends - Bob finds the 1970s hairstyles particularly unusual. On their second day on the River Lea, they return to one of Paul’s favourite haunts – a weir pool that hasn’t much changed since he used to visit, and still home to roach and dace. As they fish, they compare being a teen in the 70s to now, and how ambitions change over time. Bob reads from The Compleat Angler, choosing a section to reveal his gratitude to Paul. They return to the houseboat that evening, and Bob is cooking another 1970s-inspired dish – corned beef and potato pie, just like Paul’s mum used to make. To their surprise, they find it rather tasty after a day out fishing. To round off the trip, Bob performs a song he has written all about what they got up to during their two days on the Lea. Less

E03
Paul and Bob head to Norfolk and attempt to ensnare a big pike – something that has eluded them so far on their fishing trips. They netted a decent-sized pike in Northern Ireland, but there are bigger and better still to be caught. Fishing for pike means they are lakeside for this episode, under the big skies of East Anglia. As they arrive and get their gear together, Bob introduces Paul to the surprisingly varied contents of his car boot, much to Paul’s amusement. They gather their equipment and find a decent spot that should give them plenty of chances to catch and make camp for the day. They cast out and then settle in to sit and wait for the pike to bite. They are a fearsome fish, the apex predator of the lake, and coming face to face with a giant pike is not for the faint-hearted, which leads Paul and Bob to ruminate on what keeps them up at night and how the things they worry about change as they get older. For lunch, Bob has decided against his usual style of cooking and presents Paul with some army ration packs - contents unknown. Bob simply adds hot water, leaves them to heat up and then serves. Paul gamely gives it a go, but whether the meal is successful enough to become a permanent fixture is anyone’s guess. Bob has chosen a suitably quirky place to stay - a cosy little house converted from an old public toilet block, right on the seafront on the north Norfolk coast. The weather is wild and dramatic, and in the morning before they go fishing, Paul and Bob have a running race on the beach, battling against the wind and rain. They then resume their quest for monster pike, with conversation turning to the challenges in life that still lie ahead. They end their trip with a visit to a local pub, where Bob reveals a hidden trick.

E04
Paul and Bob return to the river where they first went fishing together after Bob’s heart surgery – the Test in Hampshire. Famous for its gin-clear water, the Test is renowned as the home of fly-fishing. Paul and Bob are here during the mayfly hatch – the peak of the trout fishing season. Before they start to fish, Paul shows Bob how to tie a fly – a technique that was refined and developed here on the Test in the 19th century. Paul also has a Victorian rod to use today. Their quarry is brown trout – another fish which has eluded Bob up until now. As they fish, they mull over what is might be like to be a mayfly, having just one day to live after they hatch. They ponder what they would do if they just had 24 hours left and are surprised to find they have a lot they want to fit in. As the sun starts to set, Bob prepares a riverside picnic for them, and all too soon it is time to leave the river and see what Bob has chosen for their accommodation. This week it is a treehouse, set within fields and rolling farmland. Bob creates his own version of a pub here in the treehouse, with him as the landlord, and over a pint they take stock of the day. The next morning, Paul gets to the river early and starts fishing, but Bob takes a detour to a local plant nursery to buy Paul a gift. They meet up on the river and as they get fishing, the conversation turns to the fleeting nature of life, their attitudes to death and a realisation of things to be thankful for. They end another glorious day’s fishing with a very special bankside picnic, and this time Bob has a few belated birthday treats in store for Paul.

E05
Paul and Bob go lake fishing in Wiltshire, and they are up before sunrise to give themselves a fighting chance of catching a crucian carp – one of the UK’s most shy and elusive species that prefer the shadows of dawn and dusk and are notoriously tricky to catch. A relative of the goldfish, they have been likened to trying to catch a unicorn. Paul and Bob need to employ every ounce of stealth they can muster, but will it be enough to net a crucian? As the sun breaks through, Paul and Bob have plenty of time to chat as they sit quietly and wait for a bite. The conversation turns to the fact that female fish generally grow bigger than males, which leads Bob to recall his fear and shyness in talking to girls when he was young. They compare chat-up lines and laugh at how awkward they used to be, as well as thinking about the most important women in their lives and how those relationships shaped them. They discuss how different the images of male and female pop stars are today – and how it seems that it is easier now for men to sing about emotions and heartache. As Paul moves to another section of the lake, Bob starts to prepare their bankside breakfast. He is cooking them a healthy vegetarian option, but when it is time for Paul to stop fishing and come and eat, he is distracted by a new addition to their lakeside scene. Bob has brought a new fishing chair that Paul finds distressing to the eye - and he lets Bob know as much. Later in the day, Bob gets Paul back for his outburst. As it approaches midday, Paul and Bob know that the best of the day’s fishing is behind them, and they pack up and drive to their accommodation for the night – an old converted chapel set in lush green surroundings. Before they go inside, they take a walk around the deconsecrated graveyard outside the chapel. That evening, Bob has a fun night in planned – drinks, nibbles and a bit of pampering - but first he wants Paul to show he is truly sorry for the earlier business with Bob’s new chair. After they have made amends, Paul is inspired to write a heartfelt song in the style of today’s male singer-songwriters. He shares with Bob what he has come up with so far. The next morning, they return to the lakes, and a change in the weather brings a different set of challenges and ways to approach catching a crucian carp. Again, they fish both together and apart, but always in earshot of one another so they can witness any catching action as it unfolds. Bob rounds off the day with a vegetarian curry. He also makes a campfire, and as they sit next to it and eat, Paul shares the latest version of his song, which is entitled Not Good Enough. Bob soon joins in – it is too catchy not to. Less

E06
Bob and Paul revisit the River Wye in Herefordshire. Last time they were here, they fished the Middle Wye for barbel, but this time they head to the spectacular Lower Wye to fish for chub. Bob has decided to meet Paul at the river and makes his entrance from upstream – on a rowing boat. Any annoyance Paul has at Bob disturbing his rod and the fish is soon replaced with amusement as he witnesses Bob trying to exit the boat. They talk tactics, and Bob is pleased to hear that almost anything goes when it comes to suitable bait for the chub. They start to fish, but Bob is distracted by the beautiful views. They discuss the times they have got emotional, the last time they cried and whether it is better to live in the moment or reminisce about past times. Bob tells Paul that he has invited a doctor to come and talk to them about men’s health. They discuss what they might want to ask him and agree the conversation will probably end up being about matters ‘downstairs’. With thunder and lightning looming, they decide to call it a day and take refuge in their accommodation for the night – a converted dovecote situated in the idyllic grounds of a 700-year-old manor house. The next day, Paul and Bob return to the river. The rainclouds have passed, but the river is high and fast. Paul gillies for Bob, and as they wait for something to bite, they talk about self-diagnosis and hypochondria in anticipation of meeting the doctor. Dr Anand Patel arrives at the riverbank, and Paul and Bob discuss with him the health issues that most affect men at their stage of life. They touch on physical but also mental health issues and recall the reasons they started fishing together in the first place – Bob’s sudden heart operation and the effect it had on him in the following months. They fish some more as the afternoon passes, and Bob carries out his final catering duties of the series – he boils the Kelly Kettle and makes some tea, which Paul refuses to drink thanks to its grey tinge and the addition of a twig floating on top. But they both know there is more to being here than drinking tea – and as Paul settles in for a last spot of fishing, it is time for Bob to get in his boat again. As he floats away downriver, we leave Paul and Bob doing what makes them happy, in a place that fills their hearts with joy. Surely, that is the best medicine.

Series 4

E01
Paul and Bob visit their most dazzling and extraordinary destination to date, the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Completely unlike anywhere they have fished before, this small, remote but beautiful island has an intricate network of tidal pools and sea lochs, making it near enough equal parts land and water and therefore the perfect place to fish for sea trout.

E02
Paul and Bob accept a special invitation to fish the estate lake at Burghley House, which sits on the border of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. Built in the 16th century by William Cecil, Elizabeth I’s lord high chancellor, Burghley House is home to some of the most majestic landscapes Paul and Bob have ever found themselves in. With a spectacular lake and stunning gardens, all designed by the iconic Capability Brown, Paul and Bob hope they can do the place justice - and net a decent catch.

E03
Paul and Bob are in the Lake District to fish at some of the UK’s best-loved beauty spots – Derwentwater and Watendlath Tarn. In a change from the norm, this time Bob has chosen where they go fishing in a poignant trip down memory lane for him - this was where he used to come on camping holidays with his mates, away from parents for the first time.

E04
It’s the start of the coarse fishing season, and to celebrate Paul and Bob are in the Norfolk Broads to fish in some of East Anglia’s most historic and celebrated waterways. They’re here to try for rudd - but who knows what other species they might catch in these rivers, which are rich in flora and fauna? As is the way with a trip to the Broads, Paul and Bob do away with the car and instead get around by boat. It’s the quintessential Broads experience, although Paul does wonder whether he should have been captain instead of Bob...

E05
Paul and Bob travel to Mid Wales to fish for wild carp in some equally wild and wonderfully picturesque lake locations. They've had success catching both mirror and common carp in previous trips, but trying to net a ‘Welsh wildie’ will require a different approach. Wild carp are the oldest strain of the species we have in the UK, and there are tales from the middle ages of monks tending carp ponds. Starting off high in the Welsh hills, Paul and Bob spend their first day fishing an ancient glacial lake. Bob has some new carp gear that he is keen to use and hopes will make a difference to his fishing. During this trip, Bob and Paul also meet Mick May and Marina Gibson, who together have started a charity called Cancer and Pisces, which offers fishing as therapeutic respite for people with cancer.  

E06
Paul and Bob are on the River Severn in Worcestershire to fish for zander. It’s a new species for both of them, and they enlist the help of a local guide, Tim Maslen to find the best spots. Paul explains to Bob how he has never even fished for zander before, let alone caught one. After learning a difficult new technique and staying in a converted lightship, they meet up with This Country star Charlie Cooper to talk about his passion for fishing.

2020 Christmas Special
Gone Christmas Fishing is an hour-long festive special following Bob Mortimer as he returns to his childhood roots in Middlesbrough to fish the Rivers Esk and Tees with his dear friend and angling mentor Paul Whitehouse. As well as trying to catch the glorious grayling, Bob also attempts to ignite the joy of Christmas in Paul, who thinks the magic of the season has been long lost to commercialism. Bob helps to cook a memorable turkey dinner with all the trimmings and hosts their office party for two, featuring a special guest appearance by a secret Santa who has a rather familiar face. Together they chat to a fellow Middlesbrough lad, singer Chris Rea, about his unique memories of yuletide, before he drives home for Christmas. They stay in fishermen’s cottages in the beautiful harbour village of Staithes and take to the North Sea to see what they can catch, before moving further north to stay in a very magical place on the moors. Will Paul finally begin to see the pleasure of Christmas through Bob’s eyes? A big surprise at the end of the programme could guarantee it!

First broadcast: 2018-2021
Duration:  30 minutes per episode

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