Sad news has emerged for devotees of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. Ted, the canine star of the beloved BBC series, has passed away.
The dog, a patterdale terrier mix, first graced the fishing programme alongside Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse in 2020. Since then, he had regularly accompanied the duo on their riverside excursions, becoming a cherished part of the show's fabric.
The announcement of Ted's death was made by the BBC. Lisa Clark, the executive producer of Gone Fishing and Ted's owner, expressed her sorrow. "Ted was a much-loved family pet as well as a treasured companion to Paul and Bob on Gone Fishing," she said. "He took fame in his little stride and loved nothing better than messing around on the riverbanks, nicking Jammie Dodgers from Bob and bait from Paul."
Clark, who rescued Ted from a dog's home in Surrey in 2013 when he was approximately six months old, added: "He will be sorely missed at home and on screen. We'll never forget him. He is survived at home by Bo the briard."
In a statement, Mortimer said: "So very, very sad. Lovely Ted, the best companion and the greatest little chum. Going to miss him so much … and away, boss."
Whitehouse also paid tribute: "Bye bye Ted, old friend. He wasn't a dog, he was a species all of his own. He's gone to the great briefcase emporium in the sky. We will really miss you mate."
Fans will have one final opportunity to see Ted on screen in the forthcoming ninth series of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, which is scheduled to air later this year. In 2024, Ted released a book titled A Pawtobiography, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.
