Bob Mortimer has made his first public comment since being admitted to hospital for a triple heart bypass nearly two weeks ago.

Writing on Twitter, Mortimer posted the following: "So sorry to those who bought tickets that we had to cancel 1st leg of tour. 3 consultants said I had to have the op immediately. #Shitty".

One fan who had also had a triple heart bypass warned Bob on Twitter about sneezing, to which Mortimer tweeted back: "I sneezed once and thought I'd been hit by a sniper .. Pain was new level to me."

The Twitter post coincided with Vic Reeves tweeting a picture of a portrait (left) that he had painted of his double act partner in his hospital bed. The picture features Bob in an oxygen mask giving a thumbs up sign. An embroidered heart is attached to his chest by what looks like a real safety pin. He also has a full head of hair, prompting some on social media to joke that maybe that he had also had a hair transplant while recuperating. 

Reeves tweeted a simple update on Mortimer's condition with his picture: "Bob. Better now."