Gone Fishing star terrier Ted’s best moments following his death after he stole fans’ hearts with his toothy overbite and mischievous cameos

Ted, a terrier from the show Gone Fishing, became well-known thanks to his appearances with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse in their popular BBC series.

The dog, sadly passed away last Thursday at the age of 13, and was a beloved part of the comedy duo’s fishing show for six years as they travelled around the UK.

Ted, the pet of executive producer Lisa Clark, first appeared with Bob, 66, and Paul, 67, in 2020. He quickly became popular with viewers and a regular part of the show for the rest of its run.

Ted, a Patterdale Terrier mix, became a beloved character after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2025 Christmas special.

Ted provided many funny moments throughout the show, from his made-up history as a demolitions expert always misplacing his briefcase, to playfully snatching food from Bob and Paul’s picnics.

Let’s take a look back at some of the most heartwarming moments featuring this dog, from discovering his history at the animal shelter to celebrating his birthday on camera.

Ted gets his backstory

Ted was first introduced to the show six years ago, in 2021, and Bob and Paul gradually started developing a compelling history for his character.

During the fourth series, the pair relaxed by a Welsh lake with Ted, taking a break from fishing at their lodge for the evening.

This was the first time they playfully pretended to be Ted, giving the terrier a ‘voice’ and joking as if they were him.

I’ve always found that channeling someone’s mannerisms can be a fun way to remember them. I was chatting with a friend the other day, and I jokingly adopted a voice I remembered from a mutual acquaintance, Ted. My friend responded with a playful question about some local guys down by the river – it was a really sweet, reminiscent moment!

The next season revealed more about Ted’s history, as Bob and Paul started hinting that he was adopted as a baby from an animal shelter in Surrey.

Over the fifth and sixth seasons, the show’s writers gradually introduced a running gag about the dog constantly searching for a briefcase.

Bob and Paul started playfully suggesting that Ted was secretly an expert with explosives, and they told many stories about his lost briefcase.

Ted later wrote a book called Pup Fiction: An Epic Journey with Gone Fishing, which recounted his quest for the mysterious briefcase and included stories about his experiences with Paul and Bob from the show.

Oh my gosh, the blurb for this book? It’s EVERYTHING! Apparently, this guy lost something super important in the woods years ago, and someone else found it. Now, getting it back is literally his whole life. I mean, can you even imagine? I NEED to know what it is and how he’s going to get it back! I’m already obsessed!

So, after a lot of twists and turns, my journey actually led me to some really unexpected places abroad – I ended up on a pretty high-stakes rescue mission, honestly! It was definitely a daring adventure.

Bob and Ted compare teeth

In 2020, Ted made his first television appearance with comedians Bob and Paul. They were filmed on a fishing trip to Norfolk, trying to catch a large pike.

Following a fruitless fishing trip, Ted joined the conversation as the pair walked home, appearing on screen alongside them.

Ted came and sat with the two friends by the lake, and then playfully started walking around their fishing rods, almost bumping into them.

I always loved watching Bob and his dog, Ted! Bob would often jokingly warn people, ‘Mind the rod, Ted! He’s worse than me!’ It was hilarious – Ted would just look at Bob with a confused expression before going right back to sniffing everything around him. They were such a funny pair!

You know, I was chatting with Bob the other day, and he pointed out something really funny. He and Ted have this quirky thing going on with their teeth! Bob realized Ted has the bottom teeth Bob wishes he had, and conversely, Bob has the top teeth that Ted would love. It’s one of those little observations that just makes you smile, isn’t it?

Bob lifted Ted and sat him on his lap, then playfully compared their teeth. Ted’s prominent overbite was particularly noticeable in the photos.

Bob joked, ‘Look, I have the upper teeth and he has the lower ones. We could combine them, make a complete set!’

Can you believe Paul even asked if they could, like, put Ted’s jaw on my face?! It was so rude! Then Bob just… scooped Ted up and said, “Yap-a-doodle-doo!” It was the cutest, most perfect response ever, honestly. He totally shut Paul down, defending Ted, my sweet, amazing Ted. I swear, Bob gets it. He really gets it.

Ted goes for a swim

In one scene, Bob and Paul went down to the riverbank to fish, searching for a peaceful, still-water location to cast their lines.

But as they looked at the water, Ted quickly waded in, disrupting the calm surface and creating ripples as he walked through it, the water reaching his waist.

Paul chuckled, placing his hands on his hips, and said, “Ted is such a self-centered dog, isn’t he?” Bob agreed, adding, “Yeah, it’s always all about ‘me’ with Ted.”

Ted ruins many a picnic

Anyone who watched Gone Fishing will remember Ted’s habit of sneaking food – anything from cheese and Jammie Dodgers to even the fishing bait – that Bob and Paul had packed for their lunch.

The show developed a running gag where Ted would constantly try to get food from Marshall and Lily during their scenic lunch dates in fields and on hills while they talked about life.

In one part of the story, Ted rushed to grab a piece of cheese that was left over from the picnic. Bob exclaimed, “No, Ted’s getting the cheese!”

Meanwhile, the dog sneakily grabbed a biscuit from a bag while Paul and his companion were talking, managing to steal Paul’s Jammie Dodger.

Oh, it was hilarious! Bob was so upset when Ted grabbed his biscuit, and then Ted actually moved away to eat it! Bob exclaimed, ‘You dirty!’ and then everyone started laughing, with someone pointing out, ‘He’s just stolen your Jammie Dodger!’ It was a classic biscuit-related showdown, honestly.

Paul was upset about a missing Jammie Dodger and wasn’t sure who was responsible, asking if it was Bob or Ted. Bob responded that there were eight biscuits in the pack, seven of which were his, and the missing one must have been Paul’s.

Ted and Bob run a race

During the fifth episode, Paul playfully challenged Ted and Bob to a race – a 30-yard dash to see who was the fastest.

Bob was talking about Ted’s age and a recent boast. Ted claimed he could run faster than Bob, but Bob pointed out that, if you calculated Ted’s age like dog years, he’d be 70 to Bob’s 63. Bob felt this meant he should easily win a race against him.

‘The official UK final, 30 yards dash, canine vs human,’ Paul joked.

When the race began, Ted quickly took the lead, leaving Bob trailing behind. Things took an unexpected turn, however, when Bob’s pants started to fall down!

Bob stumbled and fell, rolling onto his side, while Ted kept running towards the camera without even glancing back.

Ted goes on his first date

In episode six, Bob and Paul arranged a date for Ted with a female terrier. The two dogs met by the river in a cute romantic setup.

“Your date’s here, Ted,” Bob announced, as the camera focused on the female dog. Bob then reminded Ted, “Remember what we talked about – don’t only talk about briefcases, and watch your language!”

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe what happened! They showed Ted and his best buddy running towards each other, like a super dramatic slow-mo moment, and I was so ready for a sweet reunion. But then, this new dog – the new dog! – just totally blew past Ted and made a beeline straight for Bob and Paul! I was shocked, honestly. It was like Ted didn’t even matter! I can’t stop thinking about it.

She ran off quickly. “What did he say?” Bob asked, then yelled to Ted, “Were you swearing?” Paul chimed in, “Ted, what did you say to her? That wasn’t very smart, Ted.”

Speaking as if he were Ted, Paul said, ‘It’s all in the past – we just weren’t a good match. We didn’t really connect.’

This follows Bob and Paul’s heartfelt remembrance of Ted, who recently passed away at the age of 13.

After his death, Bob and Paul fondly remembered their fishing companion, sharing that they would deeply miss him.

Bob was heartbroken about the loss of his beloved Ted, describing him as a wonderful companion and a true friend. He said he’ll miss Ted terribly, and also mentioned missing his ‘boss’ as well.

Paul said goodbye to Ted, calling him a one-of-a-kind friend. He joked that Ted had gone to a heavenly shop filled with briefcases, and that they would miss him dearly.

As a longtime fan, it was so heartbreaking to hear about Ted. Lisa, his owner, shared that he wasn’t just a pet, but a real part of the family, and a beloved friend to Paul and Bob during all their ‘Gone Fishing’ adventures. He’ll be deeply missed!

He handled his sudden fame with ease, but truly enjoyed simple pleasures like playing by the river. He was known for playfully taking Jammy Dodgers from Bob and bait from Paul.

We are deeply saddened by his passing and he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him, both personally and as a performer. He leaves behind his beloved dog, Bo the Briard.

Ted, the author of the popular books A Pawtobiography and Pup Fiction, will be appearing in a final episode of the TV show Gone Fishing. The ninth series of the show is set to air later this year.

Ted, a popular social media personality with over 200,000 followers, plans to release a third book sometime in 2026.

It’s been so touching to see the outpouring of love since we lost Ted. Fans are absolutely heartbroken, and social media is filled with beautiful tributes. I saw one Instagram post that really captured the feeling – someone wrote, ‘This is news I never wanted to hear. Lovely Ted! Rest well, buddy, you were, and always will be, much loved by everyone.’ It just shows how much joy and affection this sweet pup brought to so many lives.

Someone else commented on how heartbreaking it was to see him go, calling him a show icon. They especially cherished the connection he had with Paul and Bob, and expressed how much they’ll miss seeing him on television.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing is a show that began in 2018, featuring the two comedians traveling throughout the UK and going fishing together.

The podcast features personal chats about everyday life – things like health, family, and friends – and has also hosted a number of well-known guests, including comedian Lee Mack and TV personality Ben Fogle.

In 2024, Bob, the star of the show Gone Fishing, shared that he couldn’t walk for half of the seventh season because he had shingles.

He almost didn’t film the project because he suffered from shingles for six months, which weakened his muscles so much that he needed a wheelchair to get around some of the filming locations.

Shingles is a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus. While anyone can develop it, it’s more frequently seen in older adults.

I wasn’t feeling well, which made the season tough, but Paul was a great support and helped me get through it. For half the season, I couldn’t walk, so it was really challenging. People didn’t see this, but they also don’t see me at my best when I am able to walk. I was often helped from a wheelchair up the embankment when we were in Trent, but that wasn’t something that was ever visible to the public, as I rarely appeared on my feet.

I’ve been working on regaining my strength, and I’m about 80% there now. By the end of filming, I was feeling pretty good. The first two episodes are the best we’ve ever done on Gone Fishing – I really think they’re fantastic.

Paul and I are really finding our groove with the show, and I don’t want to sound arrogant saying that. We’ve figured out what works and what audiences enjoy, and I’m genuinely passionate about this series.

As with past events, Bob is handling all the food and lodging. He mentioned he’s particularly looking forward to hotdogs served from a flask – and enjoying them by the water in Norfolk during the first episode.

The BBC2 show started in 2018 after Paul convinced Bob to visit the riverbank, following Bob’s recovery from a triple heart bypass.

In 2015, Bob had triple bypass surgery after doctors discovered his arteries were 95% blocked. During the procedure, his heart had to be stopped for 32 minutes.

In June, it was announced BBC Factual had commissioned an eighth series of the series.

Paul expressed his excitement about returning to ‘Gone Fishing’ with a new companion. Bob added that they both anticipate revisiting places from their past, describing the series as a journey back in time to fish in locations that hold special meaning for them.

As a huge fan, I’m thrilled to hear that Paul and Bob are returning! It’s fantastic news that we’ll get another series filled with their fishing adventures, heartwarming friendship, and those lovely, thoughtful moments by the riverbank. I can’t wait!

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always looking for genuinely heartwarming content, and let me tell you, following these individuals on their journey is a real joy. This new series feels especially intimate and promises to be their most enjoyable adventure yet – I have a feeling you’ll absolutely love getting to know them better!

It’s always a joy to follow these characters and spend time with them, and this new series feels like their most intimate and enjoyable journey yet.

Lisa Clark, the Executive Producer, said she’s thrilled to keep highlighting the beauty of the country alongside Paul, Bob, and Ted.

There’s lots for everyone to enjoy, whether human or animal! Ted has plenty of mud to play in, Bob keeps tripping, and Paul is focused on his fishing.

Last December, Bob shared that he was deeply afraid he’d never race again, following what he described as the most difficult year for his health.

The comedian has been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis and recently learned that a bout of shingles caused him to lose about 20% of his muscle function, according to his doctors.

He admitted on the show that last year was the unhealthiest of his life, even worse than the time he had heart problems.

My consultant estimates my leg is about 80% recovered, but she explained that I’ll need to assess what that level of recovery actually means for my daily life and activities.

‘The muscles I’ve lost, I’ve lost… But other ones can compensate for it, you know what I mean?

I’m building up my other muscles, but I really doubt I’ll ever be able to run again, and you know how much I used to enjoy it, Paul.

Bob has always been honest about his health, and he’s previously shared details about his heart bypass surgery and his difficulties with arthritis.

In December 2020, Bob revealed he was worried the coronavirus pandemic might reduce his lifespan by two years.

He admitted that during lockdown, he abandoned his healthy habits. He explained he hadn’t exercised at all, and had been overeating and drinking a lot of alcohol, joking that it likely shortened his lifespan by two years.

The comedian previously spoke about his struggles with rheumatoid arthritis.

I remember Bob telling me about how he got rheumatoid arthritis – it came on so suddenly when he was in his mid-twenties. He said it felt like he just woke up one morning and bam, it hit him. It was completely out of the blue.

I haven’t experienced this issue for many years, since I was 34, but it reappeared about 10 days ago. I’m worried about whether it will persist. While I may be overweight, it’s actually due to steroid use.

I felt like I checked out around the age of sixty and lost the desire to try new things. It wasn’t until then that I realized all the opportunities I had missed.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

2026-04-30 18:40