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After having an emergency triple heart bypass, Bob Mortimer was told to cut right down on his cheese consumption.
But the comedian and presenter, 66, admits would rather take his chances than give up one of his favourite foods.
‘The dietitian said, “You can have a matchbox-size [piece] every week,”‘ he explained.
‘That broke my heart. There are probably those who do stick to it, but I’m probably in the school of thought that I’d rather have three years less.’
And don’t bother inviting him to a dinner party.
‘Sounds like torture,’ he says. ‘I hate that sort of formal fear. The people I know don’t invite me to anything.’
After having an emergency triple heart bypass, Bob Mortimer was told to cut right down on his cheese consumption – but the comedian and presenter admits would rather take his chances
Mortimer underwent bypass surgery in 2015 when his heart stopped for 32 minutes – he later discovered that 95 per cent of his arteries were blocked
Mortimer underwent bypass surgery in 2015 when his heart stopped for 32 minutes – he later discovered that 95 per cent of his arteries were blocked.
Last summer, he was unable to walk after contracting shingles while filming his BBC show, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Gone Fishing.
Appearing on Mel Giedroyc’s Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake podcast in April, the comedian explained that he no longer fears death.
He said: ‘I don’t feel scared about death, I just feel so frustrated and sad to think I won’t see how stories end.
‘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.’
Speaking about his near death experience, Mortimer added: ‘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.”‘
The comedian secretly married his wife Lisa Matthews just half an hour before undergoing heart surgery.
Last summer, he was unable to walk after contracting shingles while filming his BBC show, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Gone Fishing
Mortimer has been open about his health in the past and has previously spoken about his triple heart bypass surgery and struggles with arthritis
Mortimer 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.
‘I got married at half nine on the Monday then went into hospital for the operation at ten.’
Mortimer has been open about his health in the past and has previously spoken about his triple heart bypass surgery and struggles with arthritis.
In December 2020, the comedian admitted he feared the coronavirus pandemic would cut his life short.
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.’
