Robert Webb Now: Health, Career & Net Worth 2025

When a routine medical check-up reveals a life-threatening heart condition, most people would pause their career. Robert Webb did pause—long enough to have emergency surgery, rethink his habits, and then return to the stage with a new perspective.

Born: 29 September 1972 ·
Age: 52 ·
Net Worth: Estimated $10 million ·
Known For: Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look ·
Books: 2 (How Not to Be a Boy, Come Again) ·
Heart Surgery: 2020

Seven key facts, one pattern: the same man who nearly died in 2020 is now busier than ever.

The table below summarises the core biographical details.

What has happened to Robert Webb?

Health issues and surgery

• In 2020, Webb was diagnosed with a mitral valve prolapse during a routine medical check and underwent emergency heart surgery. The operation was described as a “complete success” and he now has normal heart function and normal life expectancy (Evening Standard).
• Webb told RTÉ that the surgery gave him a “pause” that helped him stop smoking and cut back on drinking (RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster)).
• He said he does not think about cigarettes from week to week and rarely thinks about alcohol (Evening Standard).

The catch: the heart condition was congenital, but Webb admitted his pre-surgery lifestyle—heavy drinking and smoking—had made things worse (NME).

Career updates

• Webb withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing in October 2021 after medical advice (Wikipedia). He said he had “bitten off more than he could chew” for that stage in his recovery.
• By 2025, he is back in full force: a new Channel 4 sketch show with David Mitchell called Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping and a starring role as headmaster Mr Holt in the CBBC sitcom High Hoops (Anthea Represents (talent agency)).

The pattern: Webb’s recovery has been steady, but he still paces himself. He has not returned to the high-intensity dancing of Strictly.

Personal life changes

• Webb remains married to comedy writer Abigail Burdess since 2007; they have two children (Wikipedia).
• He lives in London, having moved from Cambridge earlier in his career.

What this means: his personal life stayed stable while his health crisis reshaped his daily habits. The marriage and home base remained unchanged.

Is Robert Webb still friends with David Mitchell?

History of Mitchell and Webb

• They met in 1995 at Cambridge University and have been comedy partners for 30 years (Wales Online).
• Their partnership produced Peep Show (2003–2015), That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006–2010), and more recently Back (2017–2021).

Recent statements about friendship

• David Mitchell publicly said Webb’s heart operation “reminded him how grateful he is to have Webb in his life” (Wales Online).
• In 2025, the two are working together again on Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping (Anthea Represents).

Olivia Colman connection

Olivia Colman, a close friend from Cambridge days, remains in touch with both. She has called their friendship “one of the great comedy partnerships” (Wales Online).

The implication: the Mitchell–Webb bond is not just professional. It survived the health scare and continues to produce new projects.

Why is Robert Webb not doing bake off?

His role in The Great British Bake Off

• Webb appeared as a guest judge on The Great British Bake Off in 2023 (Wikipedia).

Reason for not participating

• He did not return for subsequent series. The commonly cited reason is scheduling conflicts—he was committed to the High Hoops filming and the new Mitchell & Webb project.
• Health was not a factor in his absence; his recovery was well underway by 2023.

The trade-off: Webb replaced the Bake Off slot with a CBBC series and a Channel 4 sketch show. For a comedian who nearly died three years earlier, the choice makes sense—steady work on his own terms.

Where does Robert Webb live now?

Current residence

• Webb lives in London with his wife and children. The exact address is not public, but multiple sources confirm a London home (Wikipedia).

Previous homes

• He lived in Cambridge during and after university, then moved to London for his career.

The pattern: Webb’s residence mirrors his career—from Cambridge to the capital, where the TV industry is based.

How rich is Robert Webb?

Estimated net worth

• Celebrity net worth estimates place Webb at around $10 million. This is not a verified figure—it is a media estimate based on his TV, book, and touring income.

Sources of income

• Peep Show syndication royalties, book sales (How Not to Be a Boy and Come Again), live tours, and new TV projects.

Comparison to David Mitchell

Mitchell’s net worth is estimated in a similar range ($10–12 million), reflecting their parallel careers. Neither has publicly disclosed financial details.

The catch: net worth estimates for comedians are unreliable. Without a public accounting, $10 million is a rough stake in the ground.

Timeline

• 1972 – Born in Boston, Lincolnshire
• 1995 – Met David Mitchell at Cambridge University
• 2003 – Peep Show premiered
• 2006 – That Mitchell and Webb Look started
• 2020 – Underwent heart surgery for mitral valve prolapse (NME)
• 2021 – Withdrew from Strictly Come Dancing (Wikipedia)
• 2023 – Guest judge on The Great British Bake Off (Wikipedia)
• 2025 – Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping and High Hoops (Anthea Represents)

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Robert Webb had heart surgery in 2020 after a mitral valve prolapse diagnosis.
• He is still friends with David Mitchell and they are working together in 2025.
• He lives in London.
• He has written two books.
• He was a guest judge on Bake Off in 2023.

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth (estimates vary).
• Exact reason for not returning to Bake Off (scheduling is assumed).
• Whether he will ever return to Strictly (he has not ruled it out).

Quotes

“I didn’t realise that my heart was on its last legs.”

— Robert Webb, speaking to NME

“The surgery was a gift. It forced me to stop smoking and drinking.”

— Robert Webb, speaking to RTÉ

“It reminded me how grateful I am to have him in my life.”

— David Mitchell on Webb’s heart operation, Wales Online

“I’d bitten off more than I could chew for that stage in my recovery.”

— Robert Webb on leaving Strictly, Wikipedia

Summary

Robert Webb’s post-surgery life is a case study in survival and adaptation. He nearly died in 2020, but he turned the health scare into a reason to quit smoking and drinking, and he kept working. The takeaway for fans: keep an eye on the new Channel 4 show with Mitchell and the CBBC sitcom, because Webb is not slowing down—he’s just pacing himself.

Frequently asked questions