For anyone who has ever taken a dog fishing, Ted was never just a dog on a television programme.
The much-loved Patterdale terrier mix, who became a familiar part of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, has died aged 13, prompting a wave of sadness from viewers who came to love him as much as the show itself. Alongside Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, Ted became part of what made the series feel so warm, honest and recognisable to anglers.
That is because dogs and fishing have always gone together. Anyone who has spent time on the bank with one knows exactly what they bring. They are there when the gear is being loaded in to the car, sniffing round the tackle, under your feet at the wrong moment, then curled up beside you when the day settles down.
They don't care whether you have drawn well, or if the fish are having it, or even if you blank. They are simply glad to be there, and somehow that makes the day that much better.
Ted may have been a small part of a much-loved programme, but he leaves a big gap. For many viewers, he was part of the soul of Gone Fishing, and a reminder of the simple bond between anglers, dogs and time on the bank.
Angling Times sends its condolences to all who knew and loved him.