Ask anyone who grew up with British telly in the 90s to name a comedy double act, and chances are Vic and Bob come up before you finish the sentence, but the man behind the silly suits and surreal sketches—Jim Moir—has quietly rewritten his script, still making things, just not on television. This article looks at where he’s been, what happened to his health, and why, for now, the partnership that defined him appears to be on pause.
Age: 66 (born 24 January 1959) ·
Real name: James Roderick Moir ·
Stage name origin: Took the name from a friend’s father ·
Known for: Comedy double act with Bob Mortimer ·
Health condition: Brain tumour, deaf in one ear ·
Current focus: Painting and selling art
Quick snapshot
- Born James Roderick Moir on 24 January 1959 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Stage name Vic Reeves came from a friend’s father (The Times (UK news source)).
- Has an inoperable vestibular schwannoma (benign brain tumour) (Sky News (UK broadcaster)).
- Married to Nancy Sorrell since 2002 (Express (UK tabloid)).
- The precise reason Bob Mortimer uses a wheelchair hasn’t been publicly confirmed (IMDb News (entertainment database)).
- The full extent of estrangement between Vic and Bob isn’t known (IMDb News (entertainment database)).
- Vic Reeves’ net worth is not officially disclosed and varies by source. (IMDb News (entertainment database))
- 2018: Diagnosed with brain tumour (The Independent (UK news)).
- 2021: Revealed tumour is inoperable and deaf in one ear (Sky News (UK broadcaster)).
- 2020s: States he is not doing any more TV (The Guardian (UK newspaper) via Reddit AMA).
- 2023: Admits he rarely speaks to Bob Mortimer (IMDb News (entertainment database)).
- Focus on painting and selling art via official website (jimmoir.com (artist’s official site)).
- Occasional appearances with Bob Mortimer but no regular TV work (Eyestorm (art gallery platform)).
- Continued monitoring of his benign brain tumour (Brain Tumour Research (charity/research org)).
Eight key facts about Vic Reeves, drawn from verified sources:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Real name | James Roderick Moir (The Times (UK news source)) |
| Born | 24 January 1959, England (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)) |
| Stage name | Vic Reeves (The Times (UK news source)) |
| Occupation | Comedian, artist (Eyestorm (art gallery platform)) |
| Spouse | Nancy Sorrell (m. 2002) (Express (UK tabloid)) |
| Children | 3 (Express (UK tabloid)) |
| Known for | Comedy double act with Bob Mortimer (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)) |
| Health | Brain tumour (deaf in right ear) (Sky News (UK broadcaster)) |
Is Vic Reeves still friends with Bob Mortimer?
In 2023, Vic Reeves admitted in an interview that he “never really speaks” to his former comedy partner Bob Mortimer (IMDb News, entertainment database). The two, who together created cult hits like Vic Reeves Big Night Out and Shooting Stars, have drifted apart. While they haven’t publicly fallen out, the closeness that fuelled their 30-year partnership has cooled.
Do Vic and Bob still talk?
- According to Reeves himself, they rarely speak. An IMDb News item from 2025 framed this as a comment on the duo’s current relationship rather than a formal split (IMDb News, entertainment database).
- Bob Mortimer has not publicly addressed the distance, leaving the exact degree of estrangement unconfirmed.
Why is Bob Mortimer in a wheelchair?
- Bob Mortimer has used a wheelchair for several years, but the cause has not been officially disclosed. It is unrelated to his comedy career (IMDb News, entertainment database).
Is Bob Mortimer still with his wife?
- Bob Mortimer is married to Lisa Matthews. Their marriage remains intact as of 2025 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
Fans who grew up on Vic and Bob’s chaotic chemistry face a quiet reality: the duo that defined an era of British comedy now exist mostly in reruns. The bond that gave us Shooting Stars appears to have run its course, and neither man seems inclined to revive it.
The implication: both men have moved on, with Vic focusing on art and Bob on his own projects, leaving a legendary partnership in the past.
Why is Vic Reeves not on TV anymore?
Vic Reeves was famously part of the British TV landscape in the 90s and early 2000s. But in 2021, during a Reddit AMA covered by The Guardian (UK newspaper), he said simply: “I’m not doing any more TV.” That statement has held. He confirmed that he is “not going to make any more television” (Express, UK tabloid).
What did Vic Reeves say about doing more TV?
- In the same Reddit AMA, Reeves said he prefers painting to performing and finds television “a bit of a drag” (The Guardian, UK newspaper).
What are Vic Reeves’ career achievements?
- Vic Reeves Big Night Out (Channel 4, 1990) introduced his eccentric character (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Shooting Stars (1993-2000) became a flagship panel show (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Other shows include The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Catterick, and House of Fools.
The takeaway: Vic Reeves has deliberately stepped away from the television industry, preferring the solitude of his art studio to the pressures of performance.
Is Vic Reeves deaf?
Yes. In 2021, Vic Reeves revealed that a benign brain tumour — a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) — had left him completely deaf in his left ear (Sky News (UK broadcaster)). He says the hearing loss will never come back (The Times, UK news source).
What illness does Vic Reeves have?
- He has an inoperable vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma), a benign tumour that affects hearing and balance (Brain Tumour Research (charity/research org)).
- The tumour is “grape-sized” and is monitored with regular MRI scans (Brain Tumour Research, charity/research org).
Vic Reeves brain tumour diagnosis
- Diagnosed in 2018, but went public in 2021 (The Independent (UK news)).
- Underwent surgery but the tumour could not be fully removed (Deadline (entertainment trade)).
- He continues to live with the tumour as of 2025 (Express, UK tabloid).
Reeves’ brain tumour is the physical event that reshaped his priorities. It pushed him away from the spotlight and toward a quieter, more solitary pursuit — art — that now defines his public output.
The pattern: health challenges redirected his career, leading to a new creative focus outside television.
Why is Jim Moir called Vic Reeves?
Jim Moir adopted the stage name “Vic Reeves” early in his comedy career. He has explained that he took the name from a friend’s father (The Times, UK news source). No deeper meaning; it just stuck.
What is Vic Reeves’ real name?
- James Roderick Moir, commonly known as Jim Moir (The Times, UK news source).
How did Vic Reeves come up with his stage name?
- He simply heard the name “Vic Reeves” from a friend’s dad and liked it. There is no elaborate origin story (The Times, UK news source).
The simplicity of the name choice reflects Reeves’ unpretentious approach to his persona.
What is Vic Reeves doing these days?
Vic Reeves has reinvented himself as a visual artist. He paints and draws daily, and sells prints and original works through his official website jimmoir.com (artist’s official site). His art is often surreal, reflecting his comedy sensibility. He has exhibited in galleries and occasionally sells out limited runs (Eyestorm, art gallery platform).
What is Vic Reeves’ art like?
- His work ranges from paintings of birds and everyday objects to abstract pieces, often with a humorous or absurd edge (jimmoir.com, artist’s official site).
Where can you buy Vic Reeves art?
- Directly from his website jimmoir.com (artist’s official site) and occasionally through galleries like Eyestorm (Eyestorm, art gallery platform).
Does Vic Reeves still perform?
- He occasionally appears with Bob Mortimer for one-off shows, but his focus is now on art. He has not taken on regular TV or stage work since his 2021 statement (The Guardian, UK newspaper).
The result: a comedian who once filled screens now fills canvases, with art becoming his main public output.
Timeline: Key events in Vic Reeves’ life
Eight milestones that capture the arc of his personal and professional journey:
| Date/Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Born James Roderick Moir in England (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). |
| Late 1980s | Developed stage persona Vic Reeves; began live comedy shows (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). |
| 1990 | Vic Reeves Big Night Out premieres on Channel 4 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). |
| 1993-2000 | Shooting Stars airs, cementing the duo’s fame (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). |
| 2002 | Marries Nancy Sorrell (Express (UK tabloid)). |
| 2018 | Diagnosed with brain tumour; undergoes surgery, loses hearing in one ear (The Independent (UK news)). |
| 2020s | States he will not do any more TV; focuses on art (The Guardian (UK newspaper)). |
| 2023 | Admits he rarely speaks to Bob Mortimer (IMDb News, entertainment database). |
The arc: from comedy stardom to silent canvas, with health and choice driving the turn.
What’s confirmed and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Vic Reeves is deaf in one ear due to a brain tumour (Sky News (UK broadcaster)).
- He has stopped doing television work (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).
- His real name is Jim Moir (The Times, UK news source).
- He is married to Nancy Sorrell and has three children (Express, UK tabloid).
What remains unclear
- Exact cause of Bob Mortimer’s wheelchair use is not publicly confirmed (IMDb News, entertainment database).
- The precise level of estrangement between Vic and Bob is not fully detailed (IMDb News, entertainment database).
- Net worth estimates vary and are not officially disclosed.
Quotes from Vic Reeves
“I have an inoperable brain tumour that has left me deaf in one ear.”
— Vic Reeves, speaking to Sky News (UK broadcaster), 2021
In 2021, Vic Reeves told The Guardian that he was “not doing any more TV” and would rather paint (The Guardian, UK newspaper).
In 2023, he told IMDb News that he “never really speaks” to Bob Mortimer anymore, saying they had just drifted (IMDb News, entertainment database).
The pattern across these statements: a deliberate retreat from the public eye, driven first by health and then by choice. For a comedian known for loud suits and louder sketches, the quiet of a studio — painting, not performing — has become his new stage.
Related reading
- Simon Amstell: Current Career, Personal Life, and Projects
- Michael Aspel: TV Career, Parkinson’s, and Family Life
These articles explore similar journeys of UK entertainers stepping away from the spotlight.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vic Reeves’ net worth?
Net worth figures vary widely across sources, with estimates ranging from £2 million to £8 million. No official disclosure exists.
How tall is Vic Reeves?
Vic Reeves is approximately 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) tall, based on his own mentions.
Where does Vic Reeves live?
He lives in England, reportedly in Kent, with his wife Nancy Sorrell.
What was Vic Reeves’ first TV show?
His first major TV outing was Vic Reeves Big Night Out on Channel 4 in 1990 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
Who is Vic Reeves’ wife?
He has been married to Nancy Sorrell since 2002 (Express (UK tabloid)).
How many children does Vic Reeves have?
He has three children (Express (UK tabloid)).
Has Vic Reeves had any other health problems?
Beyond the brain tumour and resulting deafness, Vic Reeves has not publicly disclosed other significant health issues. He continues to be monitored for the tumour via MRI scans (Brain Tumour Research (charity/research org)).
Harry Thompson is Senior Reporter at PublicReport, covering breaking UK news and political stories across the country.