Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing - Episode Guide

Paul and Bob fish for tench in Norfolk and reminisce about their childhood days.

Paul and Bob fish for the mighty barbel in Hay on Wye. Passing a graveyard they muse about the future and chat to a local vicar about death and their own funerals. To lighten the mood back in their wooden fishing cabin, Bob promises Paul a very special treat if they are successful in their angling efforts.

In the beautiful Monsal Valley in Derbyshire, Paul teaches Bob how to fly-fish for wild rainbow trout. While fishing, they discuss their humble beginnings in show business and have a good gossip about theircontemporaries. Bob cooks Paul his very personal recipe of 'tuna Melanie' on the river bank, and it soon transpires his cooking is a lot more successful than his fishing.

Paul and Bob fish the beautiful river Wensum in search of the equally beautifully roach. Struggling up and down the riverbanks, they realise how age is starting to take its toll on their physicality. But Bob has a plan to help Paul recapture his youth.

They stay overnight in a disused train station and visit the local pub with Paul showing off his new look, courtesy of Bob.

They decide to challenge each other to a fishing competition where the winner gets a very special culinary treat, and be warned, their dinner table conversation is not for the faint hearted.

Paul fishes at Christchurch's quintessential Bridge Pool in Dorset, hoping to catch sea trout. Bob arrives late but redeems himself by hooking the first fish of the day. After a glorious morning Paul persuades Bob to charter a boat out to sea in search of sea bass. Bob has a history of sea sickness and is not keen but eventually they venture out to the Needles where Paul makes an incredible catch. The fish is too big for Bob to handle so they head off to a local restaurant to prepare it. Bob performs a small cameo as an irritating waiter.

In this final episode, Paul and Bob decide to try and catch a legendary pike, which is perhaps not the best idea for two men of a certain age with heart problems.

In the cosy cottage where they are staying, they invite a consultant cardiologist for dinner to talk about their medical past and their future, gaining tips on how to live the most healthy life possible. Facing the future, they write a eulogy for each other as the sun sets on their final fishing expedition.

Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer travel to the picturesque River Usk in south Wales, where Paul's father first taught him to fish as a young child. The duo discuss their respective childhoods and reflect on their own family lives and values. In their cosy cottage accommodation in the heart of the countryside they compare school photographs and Paul serenades Bob with his guitar. Once outside in the picturesque environment, their quarry is the wild brown trout.

Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer brave the wild lakes of Essex in search of the mighty carp. They have the latest high-tech equipment to catch the biggest fish they can - and are fully prepared to stay all night if they have to. The pair discuss the true meaning of a mid-life crisis and decide to visit a beauty clinic to see whether there are any suitable treatments available to re-capture their youth. Bob reveals his secret recipe to make the perfect scrambled eggs - but it's not the only thing that shocks Paul.

Bob has harboured a childhood dream to catch a salmon, so he and Paul set off for the River Tay in Scotland.

At the Upper Tamar Lakes, Paul and Bob fish for the predatory perch. When Bob reveals this week's accommodation which leaves Paul almost speechless.

Paul and Bob fly to Enniskillen to fish for the pike which eluded them in series one. Paul demonstrates how to perform life-saving CPR and Bob tells Paul's fortune in a traditional Irish manner.

Paul and Bob fish for graceful grayling on the stunning River Ure. They meet the surgeon who performed Bob's life-saving heart bypass and re-enact the drama of the operating table – in a local pub!

Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer return to Scotland for their latest fishing trip. Having failed to catch a salmon in the River Tay, they hope to have more luck on the Tweed. They begin their journey at the isolated Bemersyde Estate before moving on to the Bridge Pool at Kelso, one of the most famous salmon fishing spots in Scotland. They also try their hand at boat fishing and receive some mystical predictions from a familiar face.

Paul and Bob visit Paul's teenage fishing haunt, the River Lea in Hertfordshire.

Paul and Bob visit Norfolk to go lake fishing for what they hope will be a monster pike.

Paul and Bob are on the Test in Hampshire, fishing for brown trout and musing on the ephemeral nature of life.

Paul and Bob go lake fishing in Wiltshire for the shy and elusive crucian carp.

Bob and Paul return to the river Wye, Bob's favourite river, to fish for chub.

Gone Christmas Fishing follows Bob Mortimer as he returns to his childhood roots in Middlesbrough to fish and reminisce with his dear friend and angling mentor Paul Whitehouse.

The series begins with Paul and Bob taking a trip to North Uist in the Outer Hebrides to catch fresh sea trout.

Paul and Bob fish at the estate lake of Burghley House, near Stamford. Their target is the bream, but who knows what else they might catch in this rarely fished water.

Paul and Bob visit the glorious Lake District, which still has a special place in Bob's heart thanks to his memories of teenage holidays there in the 1970s.

It is the start of the coarse fishing season and to celebrate Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse head to the Norfolk Broads to fish in some of East Anglia's most historic and celebrated waterways. They're there to try for rudd - but who knows what other species they might catch in these rivers, which are rich in flora and fauna?

Paul and Bob head to Wales on a quest to catch a wild carp. They have netted some good carp in the past, but a ‘Welsh wildie' is a new and intriguing target.

Paul and Bob are on the River Severn in Worcestershire to fish for zander. It's a new species for both of them, and they enlist the help of a local guide, Tim Maslen to find the best spots. Paul explains to Bob how he has never even fished for zander before, let alone caught one. 

After learning a difficult new technique and staying in a converted lightship, they meet up with This Country star Charlie Cooper to talk about his passion for fishing. 

Paul takes Bob to the north of England in search of a prized English salmon. Alongside their canine friend Ted, they fish the river Eden and Tyne in search of their elusive quarry.

Bob and Paul start the series by fishing the beautiful river Exe in Devon, looking for Grilse, also known as the ‘summer silver'. After a day of limited success, they enjoy a game of cricket before having a go at some shore fishing at Bossington Beach in Somerset.

Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer, alongside trusty terrier Ted, travel to the Crogen Estate in North Wales to fish the River Dee for the glorious grayling, a fish which has so far eluded Paul on their extensive travels.

They fish hard on a secluded private estate, while Bob sets up a bijou coffee shop and Paul tries to concentrate on landing the prized fish. Along the way, they try to rediscover their lost youth on this trip, with mixed results.

Paul and Bob venture from London to the Scottish Highlands, taking a sleeper train overnight to their destination. They wake in the stunning vista of north west Scotland, where the pine forests and snow-topped mountains almost take their breath away.

They are on a quest to fish for ferox trout, which is a tall order for any angler. But they are in the right place, the River Garry, with a local guide to help them target their quarry.

Setting off in a boat, the pair fish long and hard, while also taking time to look for the Loch Ness monster.

Paul and Bob set off in a punt to fish for perch on a weir pool on the River Thames - leaving poor old terrier Ted forlorn on the river bank, as he is not allowed on the boat with them.

They discuss the treats we give ourselves in life, however simple they may be. The trio are also joined by comedian Richard Herring for a hearty, healthy meal.

Paul and Bob travel to the heart of the English countryside to fish a lake deep in the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They hope to catch some carp and barbel - but will Bob's clumsiness stop them from catching these skittish fish? The two of them settle in for a chat about the joys of gardening, much to Paul's dismay.

Later on, health expert Dr Anand Patel joins them by the lake. He and Bob dive straight into the importance of men looking after their health - especially their weight and particularly as they grow older.

In a first for Paul and Bob, they venture to southern Ireland to fish the mighty Lough Corrib. At 43.5km long, it is Ireland's largest lough and one of the best places in the country to try trout fishing. This is very different to fishing the Hampshire chalk streams, as they did a few years ago - this time they are out on boats and try out a new technique called dapping.

Good local knowledge of the weather and currents are essential, and they have local guide Richie Johnston to assist. Patience as well as good fishing know how are always essential for any guide when working with Paul and Bob, especially when the three of them are sharing a boat.

Later on, they head to a traditional Irish pub to meet old friend and Undertones singer Fergal Sharkey.

Paul Whitehouse takes Bob Mortimer on the ultimate Fishing adventure to the magical country of Norway – where the locals say that cod is God and fishing takes precedence over almost everything else. This is Paul's type of Christmas break, and it will be the first time they have fished together beyond the UK and Ireland.

They travel to Vesteralen and the Lofoten Islands in the Arctic Circle, a chain of islands made up of majestic snow topped mountains, deep fjords, long, surf-swept beaches and small, historic fishing villages. They must face a legendary tidal whirlpool, the Maelstrom, in their attempt to catch the 'cheetahs of the water', coalfish.

In the first episode of this brand new series, Paul and Bob travel with their trusty terrier Ted to Wales to fish the Rivers Irfon and Wye in search of chub. The Wye is one of our angling pair's favourite rivers, but they have yet to visit its lesser-known neighbour, the Irfon. The countryside which surrounds them is largely unspoilt, with the source of the Irfon found in a region often called the ‘Desert of Wales' due to the lack of roads and towns surrounding it. This is ideal Gone Fishing territory, so Paul and Bob excitedly set off to find a large chub

To reach the Irfon, they pass St David's church which dates back to the Middle Ages and was where Prince Llywelyn, the last native-born Princes of Wales, took refuge the night before he was killed in battle against the English in 1282. This is Paul and Bob's first trip to the Upper Wye - they have fished the middle and the lower Wye before and it's always proved fruitful. This stretch is famed for its fast waters and plentiful fish, so expectations are high. Steve McQueen used to fish here at the height of his fame, knowing he could fish incognito for as long as he liked. The boys settle in to hide away from the world and peacefully fish.

After a lengthy drive through the beautiful countryside, they stay at the Red Kite Barn which is set within 80 acres of a wild and remote Welsh valley. Wild ponies roam in the woods while buzzards and red kites circle above them. It's an ‘upside down' property with the bedrooms downstairs and the living quarters upstairs, making the most of the incredible views which surround them.

It is also Ted's birthday, and he decides to throw a little party in the accommodation, but Paul and Bob are reluctant to join him, knowing how Ted's parties have had quite the reputation in the past. Ted puts on his best birthday hat and waits for his guests to arrive.

On the Upper Wye, Paul and Bob meet with David Lyons, the founder of charity Tackling Minds. David started the project in 2020 to help people with depression and anxiety or who are recovering from addiction to get out on to rivers and lakes to fish. As a result of his efforts, fishing has now been added as an official option for health care professionals to give to those who might otherwise be prescribed anti-depressants.

The episode finishes with a spectacular catch from Paul, which he achieves against all the odds, leaving both him and Bob grinning from ear to ear.

Paul and Bob travel to Dumfries and Galloway in search of a big pike. They stay overnight in a 15th-century haunted castle.

Paul, Bob and Ted travel in style to the Hampshire Avon. Bob makes the most of the unique accommodation, and Ted has a blind date.

Paul and Bob fish for crucian carp at a sequestered lake in Shropshire. In the hopes of guaranteeing success, they'll be staying lakeside in overnight bivvies.

The pair head to the incredible tidal outcrop of Burgh Island on the south coast of Devon, where their quarry is wrasse. A very special surprise awaits Paul and terrier Ted.

Bob and Paul return to the Derbyshire Wye and its neighbour the Derwent, this time with Ted, to re-visit the place they first fished together.

In this special hour-long festive episode, Bob, Paul and Ted travel to Scotland to fish for salmon and to taste the traditional Hogmanay celebrations on offer. As well as fishing the rivers Dee, Tay and Ericht, they will be joined by an old friend for dinner and invite a very special guest to perform at their New Year's Eve party.

They start their trip on a steam train overlooking the River Dee, the first place they'll fish, a river that brings back special memories for Paul as he used to fish the very same beat with his father for many years. On the train they set out their resolutions for the New Year, while Ted shows off his brand new Christmas present. In true Gone Fishing style, Bob reveals unique accommodation in enchanting locations where all three can relax after a hard days fishing. Mystic Wilf drops by to predict their year ahead and Ted is treated to a special afternoon's entertainment before the traditional works party and awards ceremony.

The show ends with a musical bang as they bid farewell to 2023 and welcome 2024 … and away …