Body found after BAFTA-winning TV writer goes missing with his beloved dog

17 November 2022, 10:00 | Updated: 17 November 2022, 17:08

Police officers have found a body in the hunt for a missing BAFTA-winning TV scriptwriter who vanished with his dog.

Nick Fisher, 63, who appeared alongside TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on his Channel 4 show and its spin-off, River Cottage Gone Fishing, has not been seen since November 15.

Dorset Police said on Thursday afternoon: "Following extensive enquires and searches by officers, assisted by Dorset Search and Rescue (DorSAR), the body of a man was sadly located in Dorchester during the morning of Thursday 17 November 2022.

"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."

Appealing for help earlier, Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall tweeted: "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."

Police say he left the area with a brown and white Springer Spaniel dog. Nick's portfolio website says he was a BAFTA-winning TV scriptwriter and series creator with a diverse range of writing credits in film, radio, stage, print journalism and books.

Inspector David Parr, of Dorset Police, said: "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.

"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.”

Anyone with information or knowledge as to Nick’s whereabouts is asked to contact Dorset Police through their website, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 15:644.

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Mr Fisher, who was originally from East London, first rose to prominence for his 1990s Channel 4 show 'Screaming Reels' where he would take celebrities to fishing points around Britain.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who lives in west Dorset, was a big fan of the show. This led to an appearance on River Cottage after it first aired in 1999 and in 2007 they co-authored the book 'River Cottage Gone Fishing' based on the show.

In 1995 he won a BAFTA for writing a critically-acclaimed episode of playwright Jack Rosenthal's comedy drama Moving Story.

In 2016 he wrote and published his first novel, Pot Luck, a crime thriller based in Weymouth which was praised as "compelling" by Doctor Who and Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall