Police find body in search for missing River Cottage star Nick Fisher, 63, who disappeared with his springer spaniel two days ago – sparking desperate appeal from ‘very dearest friend’ Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

• Police have found the body of a man thought to be missing writer Nick Fisher
• While formal identification has not yet taken place, his family has been informed
• Police were searching for a BAFTA-winning script writer and celebrity fisherman
• Nick Fisher had not been seen since he left his Dorset home on Tuesday, Nov 15
• The 63-year-old was last seen in the west Dorset village of Hooke with his dog

Police have found the body of a man believed to be the missing BAFTA-winning script writer and celebrity fisherman Nick Fisher after he went missing with his dog on Tuesday, sparking a desperate appeal from his ‘very dearest friend’ Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

This morning Dorset police and Dorset Search and Rescue (DorSAR) found the body of a man in Dorchester following extensive enquires and searches.

The force said in a statement: ‘Officers carrying out enquiries to locate a missing man from West Dorset have very sadly located a body.

‘While formal identification has not yet taken place, the body is believed to be that of Nick Fisher and his family has been informed. The death is not being treated as suspicious and HM Coroner has been notified.

‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Nick at this extremely difficult time.

‘We would like to thank everyone who assisted with the searches, as well as the public for their help in providing information.’

Earlier today Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall issued a desperate appeal to track down his ‘very dearest friend’ and River Cottage star Mr Fisher who went missing with his springer spaniel dog on Tuesday. 

The 63-year-old, who appeared alongside TV chef Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall on his Channel 4 show and its spin-off, River Cottage: Gone Fishing, had not been seen since he left his Dorset home with his springer spaniel at 4.30pm on Tuesday, November 15.

Police have found the body of a man believed to be the missing BAFTA-winning script writer and celebrity fisherman Nick Fisher after he went missing with his dog on Tuesday. Pictured at his home in Dorset

His disappearance sparked a desperate appeal from his ‘very dearest friend’ Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Pictured, Mr Fisher and Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall pose with Mr Fisher’s first novel Pot Luck, a crime thriller based in Weymouth

Mr Fisher, a former EastEnders script writer and author of a crime thriller novel, was last seen in the west Dorset village of Hooke, near Beaminster, where he lives.

He drove off in a silver Nissan Navara truck with the registration number YE71 DFA with his brown and white dog beside him on Tuesday.

Nothing has been seen or heard of the father-of-four since and police said that his sudden disappearance was out of character.

Earlier today his friend Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall appealed for information on Twitter and said he is concerned for his ‘dearest friend’. 

Mr Fisher was seen in Hooke, driving off in a silver Nissan Navara truck with his brown and white springer spaniel (pictured) beside him

The River Cottage celebrity chef also revealed that Mr Fisher may have been seen at 5pm on Tuesday buying a cup of tea at a hotel near Dorchester, 25 miles away from his home in Hooke. 

In a post he wrote: ‘I never thought I would be using social media for this, but my very dearest friend Nick Fisher, who some of you will know from his journalism and telly work, has gone missing.

‘He left his home in the village of Hooke near Bridport in his silver Nissan Navara YE71 DFA pick up on Tuesday afternoon, with his brown and white spaniel. The car was seen just half an hour later on a police camera near Dorchester. 

‘It seems Nick might have bought a cup of tea in a hotel near there, but he didn’t stay there and he hasn’t been seen since. It’s so unlike Nick to do this and of course we are very worried for his safety. 

‘We are desperate to find him and if you have seen anything at all that could help us please call 101 and quote the case number 15:644. I’m also posting the appeal from the local news website with a picture of Nick.’ 

The tweet was also shared by food writer and son of the Queen Consort, Tom Parker Bowles, Jonathan Ross and Piers Morgan.

Presenter Mr Morgan wrote in his post: ‘Please read this thread & inform police immediately if you have any information about Nick’s whereabouts. He’s a great guy, and his family are very worried.’

Joanna Swainson, co-founder of the literary agency that represents Mr Fisher, said that his disappearance is ‘so worrying’.

Sharing an appeal, she wrote on Twitter: ‘Nick Fisher is an author I represent. He’s super talented and an all round amazing man. He has been missing for two days. So worrying. Please share.’

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, who lives in west Dorset, was a big fan of Mr Fisher’s 1990s Channel 4 show Screaming Reels and the two became friends.

Mr Fisher appeared on River Cottage after it first aired in 1999 and in 2007 they co-authored the book ‘The River Cottage Fish Book’ based on the show.

Mr Fisher appeared on River Cottage with Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall after it first aired in 1999 and in 2007 they co-authored the book ‘The River Cottage Fish Book’ based on the show

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall and Mr Fisher on a fishing trip. The TV chef described him as his ‘dearest friend’

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall and Mr Fisher filming Gone Fishing together

Pat Carlin, a fellow fisherman who also appeared alongside Nick Fisher on River Cottage, said he was hopeful his friend would be okay.

Mr Carlin said: ‘He’s a close friend of mine and I am hoping that he is just a bit upset, has gone off and he comes back in a couple of days.

‘He has never done anything like this before so I’m hoping to hear some good news soon. ‘We all need a few days off every now and again.’

Local fisherman Andy Alcock has known Mr Fisher for years and helped him sell his book, Pot Luck, in 2016.

He said: ‘I’m very shocked by this sad news.

‘I hope that this all blows over and he comes back and this all works itself out.’

Dorset Police was appealing for Mr Fisher to get in touch or for anyone who has seen him to come forward immediately.

Inspector David Parr, of Dorset Police, said yesterday: ‘Nick left the area unexpectedly and has not been in contact with family or friends, which is out of character.

‘I would urge anyone who has seen Nick, or a man matching the description given, to please contact Dorset Police.

‘Also, I am appealing to anyone who has seen the vehicle either travelling in the area or parked up locally to please come forward.

Mr Fisher had not been seen since he left his Dorset home with his Springer Spaniel dog at 4.30pm on Tuesday, November 15

‘Finally, if you see this appeal Nick — please contact us or your family as we all just want to make sure you are safe and well.’

Mr Fisher was described as white, 5ft 9in tall with sandy coloured hair and tattoos on both of his arms.

The former script writer, originally from east London, first rose to prominence for Screaming Reels, a show where he would take celebrities to fishing points around Britain.

He has had an illustrious career writing for several TV shows including Holby City, Casualty, EastEnders, New Tricks, Diamond Geezer 2 and Hustle, as well as hit comedy Manchild on BBC2.

He won a BAFTA for best Children’s Drama in 2006 for ITV’s The Giblet Boys. 

He helped launch Men’s Health magazine and has written for The Daily Mail, The Independent, The Guardian, The Sun, The Mirror, The Sunday Times and many other publications.

In 2016 he wrote and published his first novel Pot Luck, a crime thriller based in Weymouth. He also authored multiple self-help guides for teenagers.

Doctor Who and Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall praised the work as ‘compelling’.

It was a tale of death and family betrayal against the backdrop of Weymouth’s commercial fishing port. 

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