Last One Laughing's Bob Mortimer has shared a heartfelt admission about a health issue that left him confined to his sofa. The 66-year-old underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2015 after discovering that 95 per cent of his arteries were blocked.

At the time, doctors warned he was on the brink of suffering a heart attack on stage, which led to the cancellation of tour dates with his comedy partner Vic Reeves.

Reflecting on his illness 11 years on, the comedian revealed how his Gone Fishing co-star Paul Whitehouse helped him get back on track - a turning point he feared wouldn't happen.

While appearing as a guest on Vernon Kay's BBC Radio 2 show this week, Bob spoke about the songs that marked special moments in his life.

Explaining why Led Zeppelin's Ramble On was on his playlist, he said it was "a celebration" of his and Paul's hit show Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

The comedian said signing up to the programme has not only been his "biggest success so late on in my life", but also a turning point in his personal life.

He shared: "I had my heart surgery and I was just sat at home not daring to move. When you've had your pipes sewn together, in your mind all you can see are the stitches and you think, 'These are going to blow, I’m just going to keep still', I thought, 'I now live on my sofa, that’s it'."

He added: "But unbeknownst to me, Paul was given the job out of my group of mates of getting me out of the house.

"And he badgered me and badgered me until it would’ve been impolite. So I went fishing with him and that was my first trip out after my heart surgery, it was the first time I had been out and about.

"Then he mentioned I think to someone at the Beeb, you know, we’ve had a nice time, we’re both ill, you know, maybe there’s something in it," he added.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing first broadcast on BBC Two in 2018 has been recommissioned every year since.

While Bob was saved by doctors through heart surgery, it is not the only health issue he has faced over the years.

In 2024, the comedian revealed he had spent half the season unable to walk and using a wheelchair to reach filming locations.

Speaking to The Mirror at the time, he said: "I just tried to get some muscle back, or get some to grow a bit stronger. I’m 80 per cent back and, by the end of the series, I was reasonably sprightly."

Last November, the presenter also opened up about the aftermath of having shingles.

"I'm still suffering very much with recovering from shingles," he shared. "I lost a lot of muscle, an awful lot of muscle in my legs, and I’m just desperately trying to get some strength back in them.

"But it doesn’t really change my lifestyle or anything. I mean, I can’t run but I don’t do that much running these days, so it’s not a problem."

Last One Laughing is available to watch on Prime Video.