RESIDENTS involved in Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse’s tour of Teesside for the Christmas episode of their show Gone Fishing say it is a “great boost”.
The Transporter Bridge, popular pub The Crathorne Arms and picturesque harbourside town Staithes made an appearance alongside the comedy duo, who also visited Middlesbrough-born Mr Mortimer’s childhood home, in a Christmas special of their show which aired on Sunday night.
They stayed in fishermen’s cottages in Staithes and went on a boat into the North Sea before heading just east of Osmotherley where they stayed in Chequers Holiday Cottage.
Emma McDonald, who owns Chequers, said: “I was just scrolling through my email and saw something from the BBC. I read it and read it again wondering if it was real.
“They said it was the perfect quintessential Christmas cottage, a magical place on the moors and that they would love to film on it.
“This is a lovely boost for the area of the North Yorkshire Moors, a nice uplifting thing for the region.
“The programme is a great feel-good show for Christmas and I can’t believe 4 million people were looking into our living room last night, and that goes up to 20 million with views on Iplayer. It’s surreal.”
Ms McDonald, who hand-made all of the Christmas baubles and decorations seen in the cottage, added: “They filmed back in October so I was preparing for Christmas really early but, obviously, we had to keep quiet about it.
“The boys were lots of great fun and they loved the cottage. Surreal is the only word for it.”
The pair fished on beauty spots along the rivers Tees and Esk near Barnard Castle and Eggleston Hall, led by Olly Shepherd, owner of Fly Fishing North Yorkshire.
Mr Shepherd, who could not watch the episode live but sat down to at 4am on Monday, December 14, said: “It was fantastic and so genuine. The first time they see the river on the show is actually the first time they see the river.
“What’s great about the programme is that it’s not about fishing, fishing is the bit in between. They do what we are all guilty of and spend more time talking to each other than fishing.
“It’s about being outdoors and reconnecting, in this way the show appeals to everyone.
The 37-year-old, who is part of the Tees River Trust, added: “Seeing the Tees in the limelight is great, we have such a beautiful river. It is the most beautiful in the country.
“People argue about it not being part of North Yorkshire but it very much is, it’s a border river and we should be proud of that.
“Everyone and anyone can get some waders and fish in the middle of the river. In fact, they can even wear Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse’s waders, they used all my kit.
“It was a laugh.”
Mr Shepherd also thanked the landowners and clubs that supported him in securing the fishing spots to take Mr Mortimer and Mr Whitehouse, as “some landowners said no”.
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