And Away...

By: Bob Mortimer

Narrated by: Bob Mortimer

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

The number one best seller and Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year by national treasure Bob Mortimer.

Bob Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until, suddenly in 2015, he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery and forced him to cancel an upcoming tour. The episode unnerved him but forced him to reflect on his life so far. This is the framework for his hilarious and moving memoir, And Away....

Although his childhood in Middlesbrough was normal on the surface, it was tinged by the loss of his dad and his own various misadventures (now infamous from his appearances on Would I Lie to You?), from burning down the family home to starting a short-lived punk band called Dog Dirt. As an adult, he trained as a solicitor and moved to London. Though he was doing pretty well (the South London Press once crowned him ‘The Cockroach King’ after a successful verdict), a chance encounter in a pub in the 1980s with a young comedian going by the name Vic Reeves set his life on a different track. And now, six years on, the heart condition that once threatened his career has instead led to new success on BBC2’s Gone Fishing.

Warm, profound and irrepressibly funny, And Away is Bob’s full life story (with a few lies thrown in for good measure).

©2021 Bob Mortimer (P)2021 Simon & Schuster UK

Critic reviews

"Delightful...it's a precarious world, but And Away...is a heartfelt testament to the magic of finding your happy place within it." (Sunday Times)

"Everyone will love this book." (Caitlin Moran, Times Magazine)

"Wonderfully entertaining and surprisingly poignant." (GQ)

Delightful!!

Love Bob Mortimer! His sense of humour is so whimsical to me. My own laughter catches me off guard because sometimes it’s hard to know where he’s going. But I think that is a big part of his charm!

If you know Vic and Bob…

You know those rare books, where you want to keep listening, where you really can’t help but grow in your admiration of the author, want to get to the end, but know when you do, it’s going to be sad, that there isn’t more?

This really is one of those books.

Bob isn’t the greatest, most polished of orators and you do get the feeling that he is reading, especially at the beginning. But that’s really what this is all about. Bob being Robert and telling an endearing story about his struggles, his upbringing and his unexpected trajectory to becoming a ‘shooting star’.

This has everything in it, from early childhood, life, loves and losses, through to the Jarvis Cocker / Michael Jackson incident up to his heart issues and fishing.

I’ve always liked Bob. He always seemed so unassuming and real. This book only proves that his true life character of Robert isn’t any different.

A true aficionado of the humble pie and mash and lover of processed meats and pocket cheese.

Thanks for sharing Bob.
Wishing you many more fish, ‘on the end of the stick’!

To all the cats I have loved and lost...

This is a surprisingly touching story of a shy Boro boy, touched by some tragedy early on like.
A genuine laugh out noisily kind of read.
a well written and read book (although the reader sounds nothing like Bob)

Gentle and humorous

I really liked listening to Bob and his take on life. I didn’t know he was so shy and his advice at the end was perfect! I’m going to miss listening to him now the book is finished.

Bob Mortimer is a UK national treasure

A beautifully read biography- very nicely constructed that will both make you laugh and bring a tear to the eye
Bob Mortimer is not only one of the UKs most successful comedians but a thoroughly decent and very very likeable character.
I would recommend this book/ audio book to all- everyone will get something out of it.

I wish I could give it more stars

I love Bob Mortimer, and this book made me love him even more. I recommend anyone familiar with him, or even if you're not, give this one a listen.

And remember, always carry some spare pocket meat (or cheese) on your person.

Thank you

Thank you Bob Mortimer. As a quiet lad,(now53). You book hits home. One of the best icons of British TV. Great read (listen). Can you say you read a book if you hear it on audible?

Brilliant!

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to Bob tell his story. I could completely picture all the stories playing out from the way Bob describes them in his unique way, pure joy. Laughed a lot and didn’t want it to end.

Lovely book, lovingly told

I am American, with British family. I get exposed to a lot more UK TV shows and other pop culture than most Americans. I've seen Bob Mortimer on #WILTY many times and found him refreshing, charming, and intensely funny. So, I had to get this book! What a lovely book!
It takes you through a breezy, casual journey of Bob's life with hilarious anecdotes, lovingly recounted memories, and self-effacing humor. What I loved were the reflections on his relationships, which are strongly woven throughout. I learned so much about the man that it makes me respect his comedy and him even more.
The one thing I loved most was the reflection at the end about his mom. You could feel the love Bob has for his mom -- a love I have for mine (who has also passed). I won't spoil the specifics, but if that passage doesn't cause you to well-up a bit (or even cry), then you've lost your humanity.
Thanks for the laugh and the tenderness! Your mom (and dad) would be proud!

Would I Lie to you?

With this book, Bob reinforces his position as one of the funniest and seemingly nicest blokes.
I learned a few things, related to a few experiences and laughed a lot.
This Charming Man is always entertaining.