A life less ordinary

One of the best things about Bob’s life story is the way he tells it. Having laughed along with him over the years, reading And Away… was a no-brainer.

1959 – 1987; blocked arteries, open heart surgery and recovery; the journey from pubs to arenas with Vic – there’s never a dull moment. Middlesborough for family and footie, Brighton for tigers and shyness, Manchester for curries and studies and London for clerking and articles.

I really enjoyed Bob’s memories of growing up in the 60s and 70s and found myself smiling nostalgically at the fads and fashions of the times.

The chance meeting with Vic that kick-started Bob’s career in comedy and gave birth to Shooting Stars et al is also a lovely reminder of how hysterically funny and out-of-the box everything they dreamt up together was.

Pocket meat and pie. Red Kickers and cable-knit jumpers. Old Man Christmas and The Witch’s House, Bob’s letter to his mum and battle with social anxiety.

“If you yourself are a shy one, then please try not to settle for living in your isolation cage.

Humble and heartfelt, moving and motivating, witty and wise.
Have a giggle and shed a tear with Mr Robert Mortimer. ( )

Love Bob Mortimer. Enjoyed the format, cutting back and forth between his current life and a life changing event and some of the things that got him there. Still wondering which, if any , of the stories in the would I lie to you sections are true ( )

My path to this book began with an unsolicited copy of The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer earlier this year. Unfamiliar with his work, I came across some very funny skits on Would I Lie To You? and decided to give his book a chance.

You'll remember I absolutely loved it, and having instantly warmed to the dynamic between Bob Mortimer and David Mitchell, went on to read Back Story by David Mitchell. I should have left well alone, but the re-runs in my head of Mortimer and Mitchell making each other - and me - laugh kept returning and I imagined they must be friends. I found myself wondering what it might be like to hang out with them and join in on the intellectually stimulating, outrageously funny and cleverly witty merriment. I wanted more!

And Away... is Bob Mortimer's autobiography, and it does what it says on the tin. This is Bob Mortimer's story, including his younger years living at home with his Mum with older brothers, school days, playing football, university days, starting out as a solicitor, first stand up, small gigs and a steadily growing career on stage and screen, despite finding out he's not a good actor.

Mortimer's sense of humour that had me chuckling along in The Satsuma Complex is also here, but reading about working on various radio shows, comedy gigs and TV shows was a little less interesting to me, and I should have expected this. Mortimer doesn't spend much time talking about Would I Lie To You? at all in this outing, which was a little disappointing (for me) but he does include a bunch of stories - a few of which aren't true - just to leave the reader guessing.

Mortimer is a qualified Solicitor with a Masters in Welfare Law, yet I was surprised to find out just how much of a regular, down to earth guy he is. The author seems to identify with the working classes, loves a beer and cigarette at the pub, hanging out with mates and being a couch potato in front of the TV. His love of food was another highlight, but does he really carry cured meat in his pocket at all times?

The author openly shares the health scare which led to open heart surgery, his struggle with depression and his discovery of the meditational nature of fishing. Fans of the show Gone Fishing featuring Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse will enjoy discovering how the show came to be and I really enjoyed this section, despite not being terribly interested in fishing.

The insightful reflections on friendship were the highlight of the autobiography for me, and I listed to the audiobook read by the author which I believe added to the enjoyment:

"For whatever reason, my friendships over the years have been based purely on the quest for laughter. This was different. Nature and silence had tricked me into talking to Paul about everything under the sun. The banks of the river Test had become my therapy couch. Two men talking and helping each other out. It's very refreshing if you've been starved of it." Chapter 23 Upwards and Onwards

After listening to David Mitchell's autobiography and now Bob Mortimer's, I can see these two comedians are from very different walks of life. Their ability to make comedic magic when they work together probably stems from their professionalism and talent, more than the deep friendship of the kind Mortimer shares with Paul. I had no business building the Mortimer/Mitchell bromance in my mind, and the crash down to earth was a rude awakening.

Needing a laugh and something light after reading true crime and historical fiction based on true crime recently, And Away... certainly delivered. ( )

I grew up watching Bob Mortimer and his contemporaries. Shows like Shooting Stars, Harry Enfield and Chums, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and Vic Reeves Big Night Out dotted my childhood and teenage years. The surreal slapstick comedy while particularly British still translated enough that in my little Dublin suburb we managed to get a giggle.

So when I saw Bob had written a biography I thought one, it would be a lovely trip down memory lane and two, sure there might be a laugh or two.

What I did not expect was to find how this painfully shy and self-conscious Yorkshire lad stumbled into his career purely to get relief from his solicitor day job. Or how it took him thirty years to feel comfortable playing 'himself' rather than one of his kooky characters. Bob comes across as modest, warm and self depreciating, attributing his success to those comedy legends he happens to have worked with over the years rather than his own comedy bones. What was particularly lovely was how he often talked about his mum and his concerns for her over the years, his wishes he had done more for her while she was alive.

I listened on audio and Bob has a way of narrating his life that feels like you are just having a chat with him down the pub rather than listening to a highly polished production.

Would it be of interest to anyone who wasn’t that a fan of his work or his British comedy pals? Honestly probably not. But it was an easy listen and really shows how by a turn of luck (and then hard work) people’s whole lives can be made.