Latest series of BBC’s Gone Fishing shines a spotlight on local businesses
Two local businesses were recently featured on the BBC’s hit show, Gone Fishing, when hosts Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse visited a stretch of the River Great Ouse in Turvey.
Originally broadcast on Sunday, 27 October, the episode is part of series seven of the hugely popular show, which follows comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse as they travel the UK to share their love of fishing and the British countryside.
The pair stayed at River Cottage on the Turvey House estate and Bob visited Langford’s Butchers in Putnoe to pick up an unlikely delicacy for their dinner.
“The production company contacted us after they’d found River Cottage online,” explained Grace Hanbury, whose husband, Charlie, is the seventh generation of the family to call Turvey House their home.
“It was filmed in September 2023 and we were blessed with amazing weather and gorgeous sunshine. Both Paul and Bob were so nice, and just as you’d imagine, they were very relaxed and easy to chat with”.
Built in 1790, Turvey House is just 15 minutes from Bedford and hosts events throughout the year, including weddings, Wild Canvas camping, open-air cinema, outdoor theatre, classic car shows, and antique and vintage fairs.
After a morning of perch fishing, Bob and Ted the dog set off from Turvey to visit Langford’s Butchers in Putnoe to buy supplies for dinner.
Although in reality the production company had planned ahead and the visit was filmed early in the morning before the shop was open to customers.
“The production company called and asked if we could order in some tripe,” explained Langford’s owner, Phil Morgan.
“It’s not a particularly popular cut of meat, but we are able to get hold of it for customers.”
From 9am, a crew of around 10 people set up in and around the shop on Library Walk, attracting interest from passersby. “It was a really fun thing to do and we’ve had a great response on social media,” said Phil.
“Bob is a very easy guy to get on with and aside from filming he was chatting with us about the shop and the business.”
Phil took over the butcher’s shop six years ago and told the Bedford Independent that although tripe – the stomach lining of a cow – is not too popular, their cuts of fresh lamb, beef, pork and chicken, plus freshly made sausages are definite favourites.
He and qualified butcher, Lisa, also supply local pubs, restaurants and schools plus Pells Farm Shop and they are now taking orders for Christmas.
Returning to River Cottage, Bob cooked up the tripe for dinner with a creamy leek sauce and mashed potato. Spoiler alert: it’s an acquired taste and after a couple of mouthfuls they headed to the pub instead.
It clearly didn’t spoil their trip, as Grace revealed, “They loved River Cottage so much that they asked if they could stay on for the afternoon after the rest of the crew [and Ted the dog] had gone home.”
You can watch the Bedfordshire episode of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing on the BBCiPlayer here.
