Comic ready to be top dog on I’m A Celebrity
COMEDIAN Bob Mortimer says he is desperate to get in the I’m A Celebrity jungle – and will last longer than his mate Vic did.
His comedy partner Vic Reeves was favourite to win yet was booted off second. But Bob, 58, is after the leafy crown – he just needs an invite first.
“I get tempted to do a reality show because I enjoy them so much,” Bob said. “The Jungle? I haven’t had a call yet.”
Bob says Vic, real name Jim Moir, 59, failed to win over viewers in 2004 because he was too shy and came across cool.
“I watched Jim. God that was tough,” he said. “Jim’s very shy, so quite awkward when you meet him but when you’re on telly it’s not shyness it’s being stand-offish. He went into the jungle and I was like, ‘Oh, Jim, go and say hello!’ But Jim’s Jim.
Manipulation
“I was a bit disappointed with the last series because all I’m seeing is tasks. I used to like more manipulation.”
The Vic and Bob surreal double act formed in 1990, with Vic Reeves Big Night Out on Channel 4, then Shooting Stars, with Ulrika Jonsson and Mark Lamarr. They will soon return with a new series of Big Night Out, 27 years on.
Dad-of-two Bob, who had a triple heart bypass in 2015, says they’ve been scouring Youtube for writing inspiration.
“Two blokes sat together 30 years on. We keep thinking we’ve had our last idea.
“If it’s not flowing we just search for new music, click on it and see if it gives us an idea for a sketch. For one, we decided to mime badly to a song while cooking fish cakes, instant mash and tinned peas.”
Not the kind of grub he can expect in the jungle.