01-05-2025
Bob Mortimer reveals the hilarious reason why he 'can't go outside' in light-hearted social media post - after admitting he 'no longer fears death' following triple heart bypass surgery
Bob Mortimer put his physical brand of comedy to good use on Wednesday while promoting the imminent launch of his new book.
The comedian, best known for his TV work with comedy partner Vic Reeves, is currently preparing for the paperback release of The Hotel Avocado, his second novel, on May 22.
And he played the forthcoming publication for potential laughs while filming another of his characteristically light-hearted Instagram posts on Wednesday evening.
Filming from home, Mortimer, 65 - holding a copy of his new book in one hand - pretended he'd been forced to call emergency services after getting his foot trapped beneath a large container of detergent.
Angling his mobile phone to reveal a slippered foot beneath the plastic container, he told followers: 'I was going to go outside to give you some information, but sadly I've got myself trapped beneath a big bottle of screenwash.
'I've phoned up the emergency services. I asked for fire people to come and help, but they've suggested the lifeboat people, on account of it being a liquid, so I'll just do my announcement here.'
Mortimer went on to encourage followers to pre-order his latest novel - which follows 2022 debut The Satsuma Complex - ahead of its paperback publication in May.
The book was originally published in hardcover last year.
The Last One Laughing star underwent bypass surgery in 2015 when his heart was stopped for 32 minutes after discovering that 95 percent of his arteries were blocked.
Last summer, he was left unable to walk for half of the newest series of his show Gone Fishing after he contracted shingles.
Mortimer suffered muscle wastage after a six-month bout of the virus and had to be taken by wheelchair to several of the locations.
During an appearance on Kathy Burke's Where There's A Will, There's A Wake podcast, he explained that he no longer feared death.
The TV personality explained: 'I don't feel scared about death, I just feel so frustrated and sad to think I won't see how stories end.'
He added: 'My children's story. My wife's. The football. All the stories going on in the world that you're going to miss the end of.
'I did see the light at the end of the tunnel. I experienced going towards the light and feeling happier than I have ever felt, ever.
'It was quite extraordinary, and then I woke up a day later and I was OK. I thought, "This is great. I no longer fear death and everything."'
Mortimer secretly married his wife Lisa Matthews just half an hour before undergoing heart surgery.
The comic arranged to wed his long-term partner on the day of his operation after being warned he was 'incredibly ill'.
Speaking at a press conference the following year, he recalled: 'I found out I needed heart surgery on the Thursday, so I made a will on the Friday.
'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.'
