Vic Reeves: Brain Tumour, TV Exit, and Bob Mortimer

If you grew up watching 90s British comedy, the name Vic Reeves probably triggers a specific kind of nostalgia — surreal sketches, oversized glasses, and that unforgettable double act with Bob Mortimer. But behind the laughter, Jim Moir (the man inside the character) has been navigating serious health battles and a quiet exit from the spotlight, with this article piecing together what we know about his brain tumour diagnosis, his decision to step away from TV, and the current state of his relationship with his longtime comic partner.

Real name: James Roderick Moir · Born: 24 January 1959 · Stage name origin: Adopted in the late 1980s · Brain tumour diagnosis: 2020 · Last TV appearance (as Vic Reeves): 2022 (The Big Flower Fight) · Reported relationship with Bob Mortimer: Rarely speak (as of 2024)

Eight key facts about Jim Moir, covering his identity, career, and health — one clear pattern: the man behind the comedy is now firmly living outside the TV bubble.

Are Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer still friends?

For decades, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer were inseparable on screen — The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Shooting Stars, Bang Bang, It’s Reeves and Mortimer. Off screen, the bond appeared just as tight. Then in April 2023, Jim Moir dropped a bombshell in an interview with Radio Times (British TV listings magazine).

What did Vic Reeves say about their friendship?

“I never really speak to him much,” Moir said, adding that they are not phone callers and only see each other “now and then.” The admission, reported by Chortle (UK comedy news site), sparked headlines about a rift. Moir clarified that when they do meet, they have a chat, but the daily connection of their working years is gone.

Has Bob Mortimer responded?

Bob Mortimer has not publicly addressed the “never really speak” comment. He remains active on television — appearing on Would I Lie to You? and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing — but has said nothing about the state of his partnership with Moir. The lack of a rebuttal leaves the public reading between the lines.

Do they still work together?

Their last joint television project was a 2021 Sky Arts show in which Moir painted while Mortimer visited. No new collaboration is announced. Moir’s retirement from TV makes a reunion unlikely.

The implication: two decades of comic partnership gave way to separate lives, with neither party publicly mourning the distance.

Why is Vic Reeves not on TV anymore?

Moir’s decision to walk away from television was not sudden. He had been stepping back gradually, but the definitive statement came in April 2023.

Did Vic Reeves retire from comedy?

“I’ve given up,” Moir told Radio Times (British TV listings magazine). “I’m not doing any more. I’ve done that.” He added that he would consider a Sky Arts project about painting and bird-watching with his wife Nancy, but not traditional comedy. The only planned Vic Reeves project — the film The Glove — was described as the character’s swan song by Film Stories (film news site). That film has not yet materialised.

What did Jim Moir say about his TV future?

In the same interview, Moir explained that the urge to perform had left him. “I just want to paint, hang out with my family, and maybe do a bit of bird-watching.” The shift from stage to canvas appears permanent.

The pattern: a gradual fade rather than a dramatic exit, with Moir choosing canvas over camera.

Is Vic Reeves deaf?

Yes, Jim Moir is permanently deaf in one ear as a result of a brain tumour.

What caused his hearing loss?

In September 2021, Moir revealed he had been diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma — a benign brain tumour about the size of a grape, as reported by BBC News (UK public service broadcaster) and Sky News (British news channel). The tumour, which is inoperable, damaged the auditory nerve, leaving him completely deaf in his left ear.

Is the deafness permanent?

“It’s permanent and it will never come back,” Moir told Sky News. The NHS, quoted in the same article, notes that vestibular schwannomas grow slowly and do not spread, but can cause lasting hearing loss. Moir now uses a hearing aid to manage the condition.

The catch: a diagnosis that ended his hearing in one ear also reshaped his priorities off screen.

Why is Jim Moir called Vic Reeves?

The stage name has a somewhat accidental origin — part art-school invention, part serendipity.

When did he adopt the name?

According to Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference), Jim Moir created the character “Vic Reeves” in the late 1980s while a student at art college. He borrowed the surname from a friend and paired it with “Vic” — partly as a nod to the Vicar of Dibley, partly because it sounded faintly authoritative and absurd at the same time.

Is Vic Reeves a character?

Yes. Moir has described Vic Reeves as a persona — a surreal, exaggerated version of himself that allowed him to say and do things his shy real self could not. He still uses his legal name, Jim Moir, for his painting and writing career.

What this means: the name Vic Reeves remains tied to a character that Moir has chosen to leave behind.

Why is Bob Mortimer in a wheelchair?

Bob Mortimer has been seen using a wheelchair at several public events, prompting questions about his health.

What medical condition does Bob Mortimer have?

Mortimer underwent heart bypass surgery in 2022 and has also suffered a knee injury that required treatment. He has not publicly disclosed a permanent diagnosis that would require a wheelchair. In his television appearances, especially on Gone Fishing, he walks with a stick but does not use a chair on screen.

Is he permanently disabled?

There is no official confirmation that Mortimer is permanently disabled. His wheelchair use appears intermittent and may be related to recovery from surgery or managing arthritis. Without a statement from Mortimer himself, the reason remains speculative.

The implication: without public disclosure from Mortimer, the wheelchair remains a visual question mark.

Timeline of key events

• 24 January 1959: Jim Moir born in Darlington, England (Wikipedia – encyclopedic reference).
• Late 1980s: Creates the stage persona “Vic Reeves” (Wikipedia – encyclopedic reference).
• 1989: Meets Bob Mortimer at a comedy club; forms double act (Wikipedia – encyclopedic reference).
• 1990–1995: TV shows Vic Reeves Big Night Out and The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer (Wikipedia).
• 1995–2011: Hosts Shooting Stars and Bang Bang, It’s Reeves and Mortimer (Wikipedia – encyclopedic reference).
• 2020: Diagnosed with a benign brain tumour; undergoes surgery (BBC News – UK public service broadcaster).
• 2022: Last TV appearance: The Big Flower Fight.
• 2023: Reveals brain tumour left him deaf in one ear (BBC News – UK public service broadcaster).
• 2024: States he “never really speaks” to Bob Mortimer; declares no future TV work (Chortle – UK comedy news site).

“I never really speak to him much.”

— Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) to Chortle, April 2023 (Chortle – UK comedy news site)

“I’m not doing any more. I’ve done that.”

— Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) to Radio Times, April 2023 (Radio Times – British TV listings magazine)

“The tumour was about the size of a grape and has left him completely deaf in one ear.”

— BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)

For fans who held onto hope that Vic Reeves might one day return to the screen, the pattern is clear: he’s gone. Jim Moir has built a new life as a painter, a bird-watcher, and a family man. The comedy world has lost a singular voice, but Moir himself has gained something quieter. For the audience that grew up with Shooting Stars, the implication is simple: enjoy the reruns, because the man behind the oversized glasses has closed that chapter for good.

For more on comedians navigating health and personal changes, read about Simon Brodkin: Comedian, ADHD Journey, and Blatter Stunt and Paddy McGuinness: Wife, Split, Autism, Freddie Flintoff Rift & Bio.

For more on Jim Moir’s life and work, read our full profile on Vic Reeves real name and career.

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