Mortimer considered retiring as a live performer three years ago after having the operation and was warned to keep his heart rate low. Before going back on stage for the start of his delayed 25th anniversary tour with comedy partner Vic Reeves in Leeds he felt his heart thumping, and had to decide whether to listen to or ignore the doctors’ advice. If he had followed the medical opinion it could have ended one of the most popular double acts in British comedy.
The moment came after he and Reeves, whom he refers to by his real name Jim Moir, had gone through their backstage preparation of listening to A Sea Symphony, a classical choral piece by Vaughan Williams.
Mortimer told host Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs: “This is the track we play before going on stage and have for 30 years.
“It still gives me goosebumps as it’s a very intimate moment, just me and Jim backstage, scared stiff, all alone.
“I was told by the doctors if my heart rate went over 153 I should not go on but after listening to that song it was in the 160s. I had to decide in that moment whether to stop, what to do.
“I am grateful to the 7,500 people in the audience that night as when you have had heart surgery a lot of the problems are psychological and in that moment I was forced to decide to carry on, that I was fine. I thank the people of Leeds who attended that show.”
Since the tour of 25 Years of R&M – The Poignant Moments, they brought their Big Night Out show back on BBC4.
Mortimer also appeared alongside fellow comedian Paul Whitehouse in a BBC Two six-part series, Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing last year.
The two friends, who both suffer from heart conditions, shared their thoughts while fishing around the UK.
Whitehouse revealed he was worried about his mental health after his life-saving operation in 2015.
Mortimer, 59, said: “After heart surgery you can go two ways, you can kind of get scared, shrink on to your sofa and keep yourself safe, or you can engage with life again. I probably was in danger of taking the first option.
“Paul kept asking me to go fishing and eventually I did and I adored it. I discovered something I’d lost from when I was young, a purposeless day chewing the fat with a friend and immersing yourself in the countryside.”
His heart problem also helped him focus on what he valued and what he wants to achieve. He married partner Lisa with just their two sons present.
Among his desert island discs were On My Way by Free and It Must Be Love by Madness and he chose Down To You by Joni Mitchell to take with him on the island.
His book choice was My Secret History by Paul Theroux and luxury item a pillow.