Last One Laughing UK defending champion Bob Mortimer talks season 2 return: “It’s an entirely different dynamic”

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Every comedian has a story about a truly terrible performance – jokes that bombed, a silent audience, and applause only when they finally walked off stage. But Bob Mortimer doesn’t have one of those stories.

“You know, I’ve never experienced that,” the 66-year-old said thoughtfully, carefully placing sugar packets next to his tea. He recently mentioned he’s reduced his sugar intake from a high of 16 packets – he thought 17 was just too sweet.

I sometimes envy comedians sharing stories about awful performances. Vic and I had a really different start – our first shows were just for friends and their friends, people who were genuinely excited to be there. Then we suddenly appeared on television, and TV audiences are surprisingly forgiving.

Bob Mortimer is simply a naturally gifted comedian. He first became well-known for his hilarious partnership with Vic Reeves, and more recently gained a new following thanks to his memorable appearances on the show Would I Lie to You? and his charming, playful role in Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

Last year, the show LOL: Last One Laughing UK really established Mortimer as one of the funniest people on television. The show, which returns next week with Mortimer trying to win again, challenges a group of comedians to keep from laughing at each other’s jokes while locked in a room. It was the first time Mortimer had performed for an audience that couldn’t react with laughter.

He admits it’s scary because he knows his fellow comedians won’t hold back, and it’s especially daunting performing in front of peers like Romesh and David.

I was so impressed with Mortimer last year! Even though he was worried about being a past winner, he didn’t let it stop him. He had an incredible final round against Richard Ayoade and actually won! He told me he quickly realized his previous experience wouldn’t help much. As soon as he started competing, he knew it was a whole new ballgame. He said he immediately spotted Alan Carr, Romesh Ranganathan, and David Mitchell and thought, ‘Oh no, this is going to be really tough!’ It just shows how strong the competition was, and how well he performed to beat them all.

I didn’t know all the younger comedians super well going in, but honestly, that’s part of what makes doing the show so great. It sounds a bit ridiculous, but you really bond with people during those six intense hours. At this point in my life, it’s really rewarding to see young talent thriving, and they were genuinely hilarious. It was a real pleasure to work with them.

Everyone’s talking about how comedy is evolving and what people find funny these days. As a comedian with decades of experience, he’s noticed a shift. He believes comedy has become more focused on serious issues and topics. Growing up, he was influenced by comedians like Tommy Cooper and Spike Milligan, who were known for being silly, goofy, and childlike – that’s the kind of humor he understood.

These days, people are drawing inspiration from really creative sources – things that make you think, ‘Wow, that’s smart!’ It’s become more complex. We used to create simple, straightforward comics, but I predict that more basic, silly humor will become popular again.

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He shared a story about a particularly bad time he laughed inappropriately. Apparently, he once told a joke at a wedding that was so offensive, the entire side of the bride and her family walked out. He wouldn’t share the joke itself, saying it was too rude and would cause further harm to those involved.

So, any other jokes you enjoy? Mortimer shares, with a smile, “I’ve always liked the one about Kerry Katona not owning a cat.” He then looks down at the pile of sugar substitutes on the table and adds, “And did you know Alan Sugar is reportedly 30 percent Canderel?”

I feel for his opponent. When Bob Mortimer is around, it’s incredibly hard to get the final laugh.

Last One Laughing UK returns on Amazon Prime Video from Thursday 19 March.

Authors

Huw FullertonCommissioning Editor

Huw Fullerton works as a Commissioning Editor at TopMob magazine, where he focuses on content related to entertainment, comedy, and specialized dramatic productions.

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2026-03-09 13:36