Bob Mortimer health update as he says he 'just woke…

Bob Mortimer health update as he says he 'just woke up' with a 'bang'

Comic favourite, Bob Mortimer shared his health battles with fans recently. The star of Gone Fishing has been in the news after he revealed he's 'not very well' after a hospital visit.

Bob, who made his name alongside fellow comedian Vic Reeves, was talking on Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, according to the Express. He said: "In my mid-20s I got struck down with rheumatoid arthritis. I just woke up and it was like, 'BANG!".

In September, 2022, the 63-year-old said: "I have been free of it since I have been 34 and it came back 10 days ago."

According to the NHS website, rheumatoid arthritis is "a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. The condition usually affects the hands, feet and wrists".

The Arthritis Foundation explains: "It happens when the immune system doesn’t work properly and attacks the lining of the joints, called the synovium".

The painful condition can have a major impact on well-being and can lead to other health concerns too, such as dry and red eyes, sensitivity to light, and trouble seeing properly. There might be gum inflammation, or small lumps that develop under the skin over bony areas. According to the Arthritis Foundation, rheumatoid arthritis is even associated with nerve damage and lung disease.

After shining a light on the condition, Bob Mortimer admitted via the podcast that: "I am not very well. I am not very healthy at the moment." However, by making the confession, he brought symptoms into the limelight.

It is understood that in order to decrease inflammation, and to increase the chances of putting the condition into remission, medication is needed. The NHS states that rheumatoid arthritis is treated by disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological treatments.

DMARDS might include:

Methotrexate
Leflunomide
Hydroxychloroquine
Sulfasalazine.

The NHS adds: "It can take a few months to notice a DMARD working. It's important to keep taking the medicine, even if you do not notice it working at the beginning."

Biological treatments, such as adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab, are usually taken in tandem with DMARDs. Biological medicines are given by injection, which help prevent the immune system from overreacting.

To help relieve pain, painkillers (such as paracetamol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are recommended.

Mortimer said: "Yes, I might be fat, but actually I am on steroids… it takes until you are 60 to realise all the things you could have done." He continued: "At my age, we all feel 47, but then your body packs in."

Despite his health issues, Mortimer has joined his friend Paul Whitehouse for another Gone Fishing special. The duo are off to Norway to explore The Lofoten Islands in the Artic Circle.

Scheduled to premiere on BBC Two on Saturday, December 24 at 8.40pm, last year's hour-long Christmas episode replayed on Wednesday, December 14, you can catch up on BBC iPlayer.