And Away… by Bob Mortimer

My sister told me about And Away… – Bob Mortimer’s autobiography – about a year ago. She’d listened to it on audiobook and absolutely loved it. My husband, who never reads, but does like Vic and Bob, then listened to it on audiobook and also loved it. I’d always intended to read it, but never quite got round to it until I found it in our bus stop community library.

As a teenager/ young adult of the 90s, I always found Vic and Bob funny. I enjoyed Big Night Out and The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer in the early 90s and loved Shooting Stars in the late 90s and the noughties. I now enjoy the gentle comedy and the often moving honesty of Gone Fishing, so I was interested to find out more about Bob Mortimer.

The book starts in 2015, when Bob has an urgent, lifesaving heart bypass operation.

Bob was born in 1959, the youngest of four brothers. He was a shy boy who really struggled socially and lost his dad at a young age. From that point on, his main aim was to protect his mum.

University life was a struggle as he battled depression and crippling shyness, but he qualified as a solicitor. Work as a solicitor was mundane and hard work.

Then he went to see a comedy show in a pub…

Before he knew it, he was helping Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) out with his comedy show, which grew in popularity very quickly. It wasn’t long before the show was on TV and Jim wanted Bob to be a permanent fixture. And the rest is history.

And Away… is a wonderful read. It is moving and interesting and Bob’s voice is incredibly likeable and readable, as well as being very funny. I’ve read far more biographies and autobiographies than usual this year – Mel B, Adele Roberts, Agatha Christie and Britney Spears. I’ve enjoyed all of them, but And Away… is by far my favourite.

Whether you’re interested in comedy or TV or growing up in the 1960s or depression or heart surgery, there really is something for everyone in And Away… . Now I just have to make myself take it back to the bus stop so that someone else can enjoy it. But not just yet.