Gone Fishing fans praise "beautiful" on-screen tribute to "star of the show" Ted the Dog

It was an emotional night for fans of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, as Ted the dog's final episode aired on the BBC. Ahead of the special instalment, a tribute to the beloved animal was shown.

It was announced in May that Ted, the "treasured" companion of hosts Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, passed away. The Patterdale Terrier was the pet of Lisa Clark, the executive producer for the popular BBC series.

The factual programme returned on Sunday (25 October) with its ninth season as the pair of comedians - with Ted in tow - headed to the River Ribble in Lancashire to catch some Barbels.

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With this being the final appearance of the much-loved Ted, the episode contained a tribute to the late canine. At the conclusion, a message read "Ted. 2012-2026" as The Divine Comedy's 'Absent Friends' played in the background.

Several fans of the series also paid tribute to Ted via social media, with one viewer writing on X: "Thought I'd watch a bit of Gone Fishing to cheer me up but no it's them saying bye to Ted. Can't cope with that today."

"Oh Ted, it just won't be the same without you. Always the star of the show," added another viewer, while a third echoed this sentiment as they wrote: "Possibly the best telly EVER, sheer brilliance!! #Gonefishing RIP #TED played a blinder!!!"

Another viewer praised the emotional episode, noting: "So lovely to see so much of dear old Ted in his final episode What a great life of riverbank adventures he got to have with Bob & Paul & what a joy he brought to us all."

"Hope you're having a blast with your briefcase in the big field in the sky Ted, you were the best of dogs," opined another viewer, while a sixth was of the same opinion as they described the tribute as a "beautiful piece of TV".

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Both Mortimer and Whitehouse paid tribute to Ted earlier this week during an appearance on The One Show, with the latter saying: "The first episode is our farewell to Ted, and yeah, he's extraordinary, isn't he? We really miss him."

"They say 'don't work with dogs and animals', but he was amazing. He was so disinterested," added Mortimer, who confirmed that the canine would get a "proper send-off" during the Christmas episode.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing airs on BBC Two and streams on BBC iPlayer.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.