Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer reveal they were once threatened at gunpoint while travelling in the US

‘Doomed’ trip in the early Nineties saw the comedy duo take a ‘wrong turn’ in south LA

Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves were accosted at gunpoint during a trip to California in 1992, the comedy duo have revealed.

The pair had planned to traverse the US on motorcycles, but bad weather forced them to abandon the plan and turn back.

Speaking on the new podcast Joyride with Jools Holland and Jim Moir, Reeves (real name Jim Moir), recounted the incident, describing the trip as “doomed”.

“We went on a doomed motorcycle trip in California in 92. We got there, hired a couple of [motorbikes]. I had been reading a book about the Bloods and the Crips and the gangs in Los Angeles, and we made a mistake. 

“We did a wrong turn and ended up in the middle of Compton and a big van turned up next to us at the lights and a fellow pointed a gun at us through the window and said, ‘Get out of here’.”

Addressing his partner, the comedian said: “You were very casual about the whole thing.”

Mortimer then recalled the trip himself, saying that they had intended to “cross west to east coast on motorcycles”, but ended up returning the bikes to the rental shop with “19 miles on them”.

The “Bob Mortimer” episode of Joyride with Jools Holland and Jim Moir can be accessed on most podcast services now.