Hi Peeps,
Have you seen the wonderful BBC series, ‘ Gone Fishing’, featuring Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse? I think it’s fantastic. Being stuck out in Iraq, I stumbled across it one evening when searching for something, anything to entertain me. And there, on BBC iPlayer was a strange program about fishing.
Paul Whithouse and Bob Mortimer. Gone Fishing on BBC
For those of you who haven’t seen it, let me try to summarize it for you. It turns out Bob and Paul are long term friends and both are recovering from serious heart conditions. Paul had a series of stents fitted and Bob had a triple bypass, a far more senior operation as he points out in the opening preamble each week. To help with both the physical and mental recovery from these heart health issues, Paul a life long angling enthusiast encouraged Bob, a far less experienced angler to accompany him on fishing expeditions. In the fresh air, amidst generally gorgeous country side, the pair attempt a different piscine quarry each week. Bob arranges the often quirky accommodation and also prepares heart healthy food for the pair. And this is all tied together by the two old chums talking utter bollocks and having a laugh. I love it.
Gone Fishing
It must have been a fascinating pitch to the BBC bosses. ‘ We have two old blokes with dodgy tickers, standing in or by a river each week, talking a lot of nonsense and eating healthily’ And what then? ‘ Er, well nothing. That’s pretty much it’ . Well do they catch lots of fish and make some kind of moral or ethical point on modern society. ‘ Erm, not really, but Bob does fall over now and again. ‘
Regardless, the first season was a huge success. I binge watched it and then watched it all again even buying the
Gone Fishing the book
accompanying book and sending copies to my best chums, whilst mentally organising fishing trips for us. The first expedition with a good mate to the Welsh Dee near Llangollen for the very pretty Grayling is sorted out for this October. We have opted to avoid the serious heart condition first, but it seems this isn’t compulsory, fortunately.
It must be a male thing as Wifey just doesn’t get it. When I got home from Iraq, I pretty much forced her to sit and watch an episode with me. I’d told her it was the best thing I had seen on TV in a long while and up there with TopGear or The GrandTour as it is these days. We watched the one where the boys are after sea-trout in the famous Bridge Pool in Dorset, before heading out to sea for sea bass for their supper. Despite having already seen the episode twice, I grinned and chuckled from start to finish. Meanwhile I was conscious of the sideward glances and look of incredulity from wifey. At the end I asked her what she thought? I can’t really repeat what she said, but to paraphrase, she wasn’t impressed, but complained that was 30 minutes of her life she would never get back.
Fortunately, the BBC don’t agree with her and commissioned a second season. The first few episodes aired whilst I was home recently. I demonstrated my god like willpower and resisted all urges to watch them. Instead, I was going to wait and watch them here, back in Iraq. I’m away for 6 weeks, so an episode per week as a 30 minute escape and reminder of home. It’s the little things that make life out here bearable.
The Horror- Denied
But no. Horror of horrors, I cannot access the Beebs iPlayer this tour. Previously, I have input a suitable DNS address
The Horror- Denied
into my Apple TV box and voila. I was for all intents and purposes back in the UK. Failing that, I had VPN on my iPad. But I have been rumbled and hence, denied. Both on the Apple Box and the Ipad, I am getting apologetic error messages advising this content may only be watched in the UK. To be so close to enjoying the ongoing fishing related antics; seeing the happy if slightly gormless faces of Bob and Paul peering at me, only to be denied. It’s blooming devastating.
I would happily accept having Sky News denied to me if it spared any more coverage of the hysteria gripping the Westminister bubble and the ongoing Brexit “crisis”. It seems every time I turn on the news, I am greeted by another increasingly outraged talking head bemoaning the death of democracy in the UK. I thought this had happened a while ago with the establishment refusing to implement the result of the 2016 referendum. But no. This it appears is due to new PM Bojo foiling the remoaners plans to scupper his negotiations with the EU by proroguing parliament. There is much talk of a Constitutional Outrage. It all smacks of hypocrisy to me. The remoaners were quite happy to conspire with the far from impartial Speaker to bend the constitutional niceties to thwart Mother Theresa’s deal. Now they appear to be squealing in horror at having been out maneuvered.
Please make it stop
Next week looks set to be filled with more hysterical political and legal games. Corbyn and the odious Speaker plan to seize control of the business of the house to force through new legislation to stop a No Deal, effectively undermining any negotiating position, tenuous as it might be. Meanwhile Comrade Corbyn’s militant cronies in Momentum are planning to blockade roads and bridges in major towns and cities, paralyzing them. This civil insurrection is being actively encouraged by Corbyn and his sinister partner John ‘Flick-knife’ McDonnel. At the same time, Gina Miller aided by former PM John Major is getting her face in the news again following her favorite pastime. Mounting a legal challenge against the government about something she dislikes.
Its going to be a noisy week and this febrile atmosphere is both alarming and depressing.
Make it Stop
I am thoroughly bored of the whole thing now. Just make it go away, one way or another. I wish I could resign from the electorate. Write a resignation to all of our political classes pointing out that after listening carefully to their contradictory and frankly self serving positions, I want nothing more to do with any of them. Just cancel my subscription, please. Let me know as and when we get some grown-ups back into government and I’ll consider coming back. In the meantime, please leave me alone.
Boris and Jeremy could emulate Bob and Paul
Perhaps we should buy them all fishing gear and pack them off to rivers up and down the country. The peace and
tranquility might do them some good and goodness knows the rest of us would benefit from the break. Or perhaps we could ask Bob and Paul to take on the running of the government. They couldn’t do a worse job and we might all get a good laugh from it. Well, all except my wife. And on that bombshell…
Graham
I wish go watch the first season though. I have never heard of this program before but it seem interesting.. Binge watching this type of programs is normal when i find them interesting
The first season was superb. I am pretty sure the second season is going to be more interesting. I can’t wait to watch the second season. Thanks for this informative post.
enjoyed season 2 but I think I preferred the first season. couldn’t tell you why, although the 2nd season had a lot to live up to.
I never really truly understood the peace and happiness fishing gives to a lot of males into that thing, but as long as it makes them happy I really don’t mind. I do have a cousin who seems to have shared his enthusiasm/influenced his young daughter so much that she is now more into fishing than normal boring Barbie doll pretend parties and what have you.
As for Brexit it’s what’s always on CNN nowadays and me and my mother wholeheartedly agree with you, it’s getting quite boring indeed. It’s the same reason I also don’t want to watch local news channels, always the same old thing every single day of the week, just “morphed” into something quite different. I’d rather watch cable news shows than be reminded how the world seems to get progressively worse. Welp, cheers to your planned fishing trip, hope you talk about that in your post in the future.
I thoroughly enjoy getting on the river. Takes your mind off Brexit and other such imponderables. Good job its called fishing, not catching, as I am rarely troubled by fish
Goodluck to Bob and Paul. I haven’t heard about their Gone Fishing Book but I think I would enjoy reading it.
I think it’s great. Seems to be a particularly bloke thing, but I am sure some ladies would enjoy it too 😁
I have never tried fishing before and I might consider reading this book then try fishing. It seems so much fun. Amazing job you did there Bob and Paul!
I like to eat fish , so going on a personal fishing wouldn’t be a bad idea maybe I just have to read the book first.
I feel like they could make a good buddy comedy out of Gone Fishing. I can appreciate your love for the show. It sounds very uplifting with a lot of heart. Being out in the countryside fishing for real is also very calming and a great getaway. I like to stay away from politics at times as well because they all seem to be caught in some scandal. Thanks for sharing!
I definitely have to check out this show! Sounds like a real bromance. Good recluse away from politics and wifeys that just don’t get it.
I will definitely look into this. It is such an interesting series.
Bob and Paul, I even like their names already. I just have to read this book. I love to read books like this to discover a thing or two.
Watching a series or reading its book has a way to motivating to take an action described in that book or series. This book after reading it might make me take a fishing expedition too.
I like to see some educating and fun-filled series but I have heard of this one. But your description is so vivid that I can’t wait to see it
It’s worth watching, honest 😁
I Have never been fond of fishing. I find it boring and monotonous. This is why I rather play with my dolls when I was a kid. That said I use to watch dad do it before.
I always considered it a bit boring too. Now I have tried it, I look forward to the next expedition😁
I never understood why anyone likes fishing. You literally had to sit and wait. ON a good day you may catch a fish or two but mostly, I do not even get more than a nibble. Modern times I guess. Anyway, I do not mind reading this book though.
I used to think the same thing, until I tried it. Salmon fishing you tend to stand in the river. In my case, catching a fish is rare, but just being there, enjoying nature is more than enough
Well, I haven’t seen the movie before neither read it’s book. You’ve done a nice job giving the summary of the first season….will be expecting the next series of episodes! Thanks for sharing, Graham.
Thanks for commenting. 👍
You’re welcome, Graham! Looking forward to read more of your post
I haven’t heard of this series before. This is my first time of hearing about it. I would sure go check for it and love to watch it.
I have only come around to watching the first season of Gone Fishing. I must say it was quite refreshing. I can’t wait to watch season 2
I didn’t think it was as good, but it had a hard act to follow. Still I enjoyed it and am rewatching it again
The first season was so amazing. I hope the second season lives up to the greatness that we have come to expect of the show. I am yet to watch it.
I can picture how the producers were pitching the idea to the BBC executives. You nailed it on that one haha.
Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall.
Thanks for bringing to light this amazing show. I will be sure to have a watch.
Please do, I am sure you’ll enjoy it.
I wonder if the show is on any other platform besides BBC. I unfortunately can’t access BBC from my current location 🙁
Its available on Apple TV
Gone fishing has such great humor. I never get bored watching it!
You and me both.
A great show enjoyable by both friends and family. I’m glad I’m not the only one that likes it 🙂
Super program. I hope there are many more seasons to come
I hate the limited access to entertainment whenever I am abroad. I hope this changes soon.
Oh wow, I had no idea there was a Gone Fishing book on the market. I have to get it!!
I can recommend it. Made me smile.
Your blog posts are very enjoyable and fun to read. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and I am looking forward to more from you. Keep up the great work!
Thank you. I am glad you enjoy them.