TV star Paul Whitehouse (left) and angling celebrity John Bailey (right).

Paul Whitehouse, the star of hit TV series Gone Fishing, alongside key brands like Shimano, Rapala, Dynamite Baits and many more will be in attendance at this summer’s Get Into Fishing at The Game Fair event.

Paul will swap river for restaurant this summer as he hosts Sunday lunch at The Game Fair, held from July 28th to 30th at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. He follows popular TV chef James Martin, who will once again look after diners on the Friday and Saturday.

Paul will spend the entire day mingling with diners and meeting visitors, from breakfast through to supper and will be in the Angling Trades Association-backed Get Into Fishing village down by the lake during Sunday afternoon, chatting and meeting keen anglers.

Paul said: “I have been attending The Game Fair for many years, so I am delighted to now work alongside the organisers to help promote the joys of fishing in any way I can. I’m keen to talk to fellow fishermen at The Game Fair and indulge in fishing-related conversations with like-minded visitors all day long.

“The event will also be an opportunity to promote fishing to a wider audience and ultimately increase diversity within the pastime.”

Paul, who is best known for his work in television comedy, began his career in the 1980s before achieving mainstream success with Harry Enfield and The Fast Show and more recently Gone Fishing, alongside fellow comedian Bob Mortimer. The pair have been instrumental in the portrayal of fishing as a therapeutic and meditative activity. They have also been credited with raising awareness of the benefits of fishing for mental health and wellbeing as well as the importance of maintaining and caring for Britain’s waterways and their surroundings.

He will be joined by well-known angler John Bailey, who has been the fishing consultant on Gone Fishing and is himself a keen Game Fair goer.

Meanwhile, Shimano has become the latest big-name brand to sign up to the Get Into Fishing event – an ATA initiative designed to get more people fishing – has already attracted support from Rapala, VMC, Dynamite Baits, Reuben Heaton and Eagle Claw, Dinsmores, the Environment Agency, Canal & River Trust and many more.

Shimano’s Ian Latham said: “We are delighted to be supporting the ATA fishing village at The Game Fair 2023. We see this as a great opportunity to encourage people into the great sport of angling. This will also give us the chance to engage with existing anglers and to showcase our newest product releases to them. We will have our team of consultants on hand to help with any queries or advice that may be sought by anyone showing an interest in angling.”

To join in and book a reduced-price stand through the ATA, contact Andrew Race at chair@anglingtradesassociation.com or John Hunter john.hunter@thegamefair.org

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