Comedy legend Mortimer has revealed he was taken to hospital on Saturday after struggling with his health.
The comedian, 63, underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2015 when his heart was stopped for 32 minutes after discovering that 95% of his arteries were blocked.
Talking on Richard Herring’s podcast at the Leicester Square Theatre on Monday night, Bob said: ‘I am not very well. I am not very healthy at the moment.’
‘I am not very well at the moment’: Comedian Bob Mortimer, 63, revealed he had a secret hospital visit seven years after his triple heart bypass at the weekend (stock image)
‘I did a show last week, a fishing show and there was only two and a half days filming and I did it Tuesday, Wednesday and half of Thursday and I was in hospital on the Saturday.
‘I am sorry I should not have said that should I? It’s a real downer.’
As reported by The Sun, he added: ‘I think because I was a smoker and an incredibly fast runner and a very dramatic dancer and I put that all in my younger years. I think I am about 10 years ahead of myself with my body ageing.’
Along with his heart problems, Bob said he is also struggling with rheumatoid arthritis.
Double act: Bob – famously part of the Reeves and Mortimer double act – admitted ‘I think I am about 10 years ahead of myself with my body ageing’ (pictured with Vic Reeves in 2018)
Bob said: ‘In my mid-twenties I got struck down with rheumatoid arthritis. I just woke up and it was like, “bang”.
‘I have been free of it since I have been 34 and it came back 10 days ago. It is really sad for me to know whether it will go. Yes I might be fat but actually I am on steroids.
‘At around 60 I like turned off and did not want anything different to happen. But it takes until you are 60 to realise all the things you could have done.’
Health: The comedian, 60, underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2015 after discovering that 95% of his arteries were blocked (pictured in 2019)
In December 2020, Bob admitted he feared the coronavirus pandemic would cut his life short by two years.
Confessing he ditched his healthy lifestyle in lockdown, the Would I Lie to You? star said: ‘I’ve done no exercise, I’ve eaten so much and drunk so much booze. Lockdown has probably taken two years off of my life.’
The media personality also revealed his festive plans will follow suit as he told Radio Times: ‘It’ll be a normal Christmas – which is boozing, then eating, then boozing, then eating.’
Cute couple: The comic previously recalled the time surrounding his operation, when he also decided to tie the knot to his long-term girlfriend Lisa Matthews
In the Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special, the TV star and his sidekick Paul Whitehouse, who also suffers from heart disease, discuss the importance of staying healthy.
On sharing his issues, the presenter said: ‘I’ve never spoken about these things to another person, female or male, to be honest. I’ve never found anyone who’s willing to listen.’
The Fast Show star Paul, 64, added: ‘It’s made us be a bit more socially responsible and a bit more aware of the people watching, rather than just a couple of idiots mucking about on a riverbank. We almost have to do something about men’s health.’
Awareness: In the Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special, the TV star and Paul Whitehouse, who also suffers from heart disease, discussed the importance of health
The comic previously recalled the time surrounding his operation, when he also decided to tie the knot to his long-term girlfriend Lisa Matthews.
Bob said at a press conference: ‘I found out I needed heart surgery on the Thursday, so I made a will on the Friday.
‘[I] found out I couldn’t get married to Lisa because you have to give 21 days notice. But my consultant said I was incredibly ill, so the registrar in London – I don’t live in London – gave me permission to get married on the Monday.
‘I got married at half 9 on the Monday then went into hospital for the operation at 10.’
The intimate ceremony saw the newlyweds and their two sons – Harry, 22, and Tom, 21 – in attendance.
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