Lee Mack is roped in to host Gone Fishing at the last minute as Bob Mortimer is struck down by illness

Lee Mack has been roped in at the last minute to host Gone Fishing this week after Bob Mortimer was struck down by illness.

The hugely popular BBC Two show, hosted by Bob and Paul Whitehouse, had a massive shake-up this week amid a batch of illness.

Bob, 64, was left unable to visit Burgh Island in Devon to film Sunday’s episode after being struck down by shingles.

Comedian Lee, 55, was roped in to co-host Gone Fishing alongside Paul, 65, after illness temporarily broke apart the iconic presenting duo.

A source told The Sun: ‘While it was nothing serious, producers thought it might be fun to bring in one of the lads’ friends to give Paul company.

Oh dear! The hugely popular BBC Two show, hosted by Bob and Paul Whitehouse, had a massive shake-up this week amid a batch of illness

‘In the scenes, Bob FaceTimes Paul and tells him he has a special guest, before Lee wanders along.

‘Lee was so up for it and brings a whole new energy to Gone Fishing.’

Shingles is a condition which is triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It mainly affects the skin and is not rarely life-threatening but can be very painful. 

Gone Fishing debuted on screen since 2018 and sees lifelong friends Bob and Paul embark on fishing adventures around the UK and share hilarious tales from their lives.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Lee and Bob’s representatives for comment. 

Bob has been open about his health in the past and has candidly spoken about his triple heart bypass surgery and struggles with arthritis.

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, he 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.’

Bob underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2015 when his heart was stopped for 32 minutes after discovering that 95 per cent of his arteries were blocked.

Unwell: Bob, 64, (pictured with Paul) was left unable to visit Burgh Island in Devon to film Sunday’s episode after being struck down by shingles

Health: Bob (pictured in 2019) has been open about his health in the past and has candidly spoken about his triple heart bypass surgery and struggles with arthritis

The comedian has also previously spoken about his struggles with rheumatoid arthritis.

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.’