Bob Mortimer, 65, has defied debilitating health problems to make his TV return, with the BBC commissioning a new series of his Gone Fishing show alongside pal Paul Whitehouse.
On the last series of the show, the comic opened up about his health struggles after he developed shingles - a painful skin rash triggered by the same virus that causes chicken pox.
Speaking on the show Bob, who previously underwent a triple heart bypass after suffering with coronary heart disease, told Paul: "It’s been a very, very, very unhealthy year for me Paul with my shingles… And you know what – it was worse than my heart period.The muscles I’ve lost, I’ve lost… But other ones can compensate for it, you know what I mean?" And he added: "I can make the other muscles stronger but I have a terrible feeling I’m never going to be able to run again and you know that I used to like to run Paul." Bob has also battled the painful condition rheumatoid arthritis, having first being diagnosed with the illness in his 20s.
He previously told The Sun: “I think I am about 10 years ahead of myself with my body ageing.” Now Bob and Paul are set to take a trip down memory lane in the upcoming eighth series of Gone Fishing.