Paul Whitehouse

The Personal History of David Copperfield review

The London film festival opened with Armando Iannucci's larger-than-life adaptation of the Dickens crowdpleaser, starring Dev Patel as Copperfield.

Jumpers for goalposts: 'The Fast Show' at 25

"And then, the BBC2 sketch series The Fast Show turned 25, giving a whole generation of comedy lovers a chance to reflect on the enormous impact the series, and its cast, have had on British culture ever since. Which was nice."

To bring a cackling close to another collection of angling adventures, the comedians head to the Yorkshire Dales on a quest to lure "the lady of the stream" - the increasingly scarce grayling - from the shallows of the River Ure. Topics include "angling Subbuteo", plus we meet a surprise guest.

Installed on the banks of the Upper Tamar lake on the Cornwall-Devon border, the two chums josh joyfully as they await a bite from "Percy perch". Later comes a day of sea angling that yields a monster of the deep so magnificent it sends Bob's heart rate monitor through the roof. Endlessly funny.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing review

Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse make a splash with this effortlessly funny, profoundly life-affirming meditation on friendship, leisure and mortality.

Review - Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

There is a relaxing element to the series and shots of the countryside are undoubtedly beautiful, but that's not what I come to a show like this for. As much as I love these two men the gag rate just isn't high enough, and as I have absolutely no interest in fishing that side of proceedings doesn't work either, even on the rare occasion that they catch one of the bloody things. It's a real shame as there have been times that this series has been a delight, but due to the far too many banal moments it's something I can't really recommend, and I doubt I'll watch another episode after this.

The pair pitch up at the wild lakes of Essex, armed with hi-tech fishing equipment ("Old men with modern methods: a lethal combination"). Bob shows Paul how to make perfect scrambled eggs and they visit a beauty clinic, amid much meditation on ageing.

Happy to be back in their waders, Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer return for a second series of their mix of angling and homespun philosophy. They begin with a trout-fishing trip to the River Usk, where Whitehouse's father handed him his first rod. "You're fishing with a buffoon, aren't you?" asks Mortimer after getting entangled in tackle for the umpteenth time, prompting a retreat to the riverbank for a lamb lunch seasoned with reminiscences of first snogs. A gentle treat.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, review

The template of joshing and musing against gorgeous scenery is totally unchanged, but should provide the perfect Friday night wind-down.

Gone Fishing, episode 1 review

Lumps in the throat when Paul Whitehouse scattered his father's ashes.