Bob Mortimer's Desert Island Discs

Comedian Bob Mortimer has made a name for himself, alongside partner Vic Reeves, for his surreal and eccentric brand of humour. The pair have been on our screens for over 30 years, in a treasure trove of popular programmes including Shooting Stars, House of Fools, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).

 

After undergoing a triple bypass operation in 2015, Bob has branched out and now also works on a popular football podcast Athletico Mince, and his TV series with Paul Whitehouse, Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

 He loves the rock band Free (and so does Vic Reeves)

 

While Vic and Bob only grew up about 20 miles from each other, they didn’t meet until later in life in London. They love the band Free, both name-checking bass player Andy Fraser in their respective Desert Island Discs. Bob says: “When I was about 13, I went to see this band called Free, who I’d never heard, and I just fell in love with them. I found my heroes. I stood at the front with my chin on the stage.” 

He chooses Free’s On My Way as his second track for the island. 

When Vic was cast away in 2003, he chose Mr Big by Free, claiming that his and Bob’s party piece was to mimic Andy Fraser’s bass solo with their mouths.

 

 Bob's Eight.

• 1  Ralph Vaughan Williams
  A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1)

   
• 2 Free
  On My Way

  
  
• 3 Joni Mitchell
  Down To You

  
  
• 4 Madness
  It Must Be Love

  
  
• 5 The Who
  The Punk And The Godfather

  
  
• 6 The Beautiful South
  Hot on the Heels of Heartbreak

  
  
• 7 Squeeze
  Some Fantastic Place

  
  
• 8 Kings of Leon
  King Of The Rodeo