John Bishop (comedian)
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Bishop is an award-winning comedian.
His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins
as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie
and Emily
and in the Ken Loach
film Route Irish
. He also had a regular Sunday slot on Liverpool radio station Radio City 96.7
called Bishop's Sunday Service.
, the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Awards, the BBC New Comedy Awards and the City Life North West Comedian of The Year Award, which he won.
In 2002, he was named best newcomer by BBC Radio Merseyside
, and in 2004 he won the North West Comedy Award for best stand-up. In 2009, he appeared as the first act on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
in Manchester. That year he appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where his show Elvis Has Left the Building was nominated for an "Eddie" (Edinburgh Comedy Award).
In 2009 he appeared in Channel 4
's short series Comedy Showcase
, and was a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind
. In that year he also appeared in BBC Three
sitcom Lunch Monkeys
as fireman Terry. He has appeared five times on 5 Live's
Fighting Talk
quiz show, claiming four victories on the programme.
His material is drawn from his life's experiences, including fatherhood; cycling around the world; playing semi-professional football; and working as a nightclub doorman. His first television appearance was in 2007 on the RTÉ
topical-comedy show The Panel where he regularly sat as a panelist until 2008. He then went onto the Channel 4
panel show 8 out of 10 Cats
before he appeared on the BBC
's Live at the Apollo. In December 2009 John started his own TV programme on LFC TV called John Bishop meets…, where he interviews former Liverpool football legends.
In 2010 he was a celebrity guest team captain on What Do Kids Know?
along with Rufus Hound
, Joe Swash
and Sara Cox
on Watch
. He has also appeared on BBC's Mock the Week
, and Radio 4
's Act Your Age
.
Bishop's debut DVD 'Elvis has left the building', was released on 15 November 2010.
In series 3 and series 4 (2009–2010), Bishop portrayed Emily
and Katie Fitch
's father in Skins
. In 2010
he appeared in Ken Loach
's Route Irish
, which received its premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
.
Bishop is currently a regular panelist on the Sky1 show, A League of Their Own
, as well as a stand-up/sketch show for BBC One
entitled John Bishop's Britain
.
In 2010, Bishop took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala
, a benefit show
held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital
, filmed live at the O2 Arena
in London on 30 March.
On 11 July 2010, John came runner-up in the second-ever game of How Many Peter Jones'? on ITV's James Corden's World Cup Live.
He appeared on BBC
programme Have I Got News for You
, Would I Lie to You?
, and on episode 3 of the I series of QI
as a guest. He also chaired an episode of the 40th series of Have I Got News For You on 28 October 2010.
, he won the Best Male Comedy Breakthrough Artist award.
He became the Number 1 'Star in a reasonably priced car' on Top Gear on Sunday January 23, 2011 after he appeared on the BBC Two
show. He drove the Kia Cee'd
around the test track in 1 minutes 42.8 seconds to become the fastest star in the latest reasonably priced car, knocking Tom Cruise
off the top, his record lasted nearly half year until being knocked off by Rowan Atkinson
(1 minutes 42.2 seconds) on Sunday July 17, 2011. He was also the fastest in the League of Their Own skeleton race, beating Georgie Thompson
, and James Corden
.
Mill Road maternity hospital. Bishop grew up near Runcorn
after his family relocated from Huyton
. He attended Brookvale High School. He has been married to his wife Melanie since 1993, they have three sons, the family lives in Didsbury
.
Bishop's hobbies include football and he is an avid Liverpool F.C.
fan. His brother, Eddie
, is a former professional footballer with Tranmere Rovers
and Chester City
. In July 2010, Bishop took part in protests against then owners of Liverpool FC Tom Hicks
and George Gillett
and later took part in a celebrity-studded protest video put out on Youtube.
It was revealed on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
, on 12 February 2010, that Bishop was a warm-up on the show. Bishop has been vegetarian for over 20 years, he talked about this on BBC2's 'Something for The Weekend
' and his episode on food on his stand-up show 'John Bishop's Britain' . From the 1990s he worked as a Medical Representative for pharmaceutical company Syntex
. Until 2006, the father-of-three was working in sales and marketing for a pharmaceutical company, with a company car and pension plan, and gave it all up to become a full-time comedian.
Bishop pre-recorded a video message to the Labour Party's 2011 annual conference, which was being held in Liverpool.
|-
!Live The Sunshine Tour
!2011
|-
| John Bishop Live The Sunshine Tour
|
|-
| The Sunshine tour
|
|-
His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie
Katie Fitch
Katherine "Katie" Fitch is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Megan Prescott. She is introduced in the third series...
and Emily
Emily Fitch
Emily Fitch is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Kathryn Prescott. She is introduced in the third series. Her sister Katie is played by the actress' real-life sister Megan Prescott.-Characterization:...
and in the Ken Loach
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
film Route Irish
Route Irish (film)
Route Irish is a 2010 drama-thriller film directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty. It is set in Liverpool and focuses on the consequences suffered by private security contractors after fighting in the Iraq War. The title comes from the Baghdad Airport Road, known as "Route Irish". The...
. He also had a regular Sunday slot on Liverpool radio station Radio City 96.7
Radio City 96.7
Radio City 96.7 is a British Independent Local Radio station, based in Liverpool, that serves Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales...
called Bishop's Sunday Service.
Career
John Bishop performed stand-up comedy for the first time in October 2000, and the following year made it to the final of all the major new act competitions, including So You Think You're FunnySo You Think You're Funny
So You Think You're Funny? is an annual stand-up comedy competition for new acts. The competition began in 1988 and has become the longest running best comedy newcomer award in Great Britain....
, the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Awards, the BBC New Comedy Awards and the City Life North West Comedian of The Year Award, which he won.
In 2002, he was named best newcomer by BBC Radio Merseyside
BBC Radio Merseyside
BBC Radio Merseyside is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of Merseyside and north Cheshire. It was the third BBC local radio station to launch on 22 November 1967 initially serving the south west of historic Lancashire....
, and in 2004 he won the North West Comedy Award for best stand-up. In 2009, he appeared as the first act on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow
Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow is a British stand-up comedy television series hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre from different venues around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The first series was broadcast with six episodes in 2009. Each episode features a routine from McIntyre,...
in Manchester. That year he appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where his show Elvis Has Left the Building was nominated for an "Eddie" (Edinburgh Comedy Award).
In 2009 he appeared in Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's short series Comedy Showcase
Comedy Showcase
Comedy Showcase is a series of one-off comedy specials featuring some of Britain's fledgling comedy talent. Its format is reminiscent of the much earlier Comedy Playhouse....
, and was a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind
Celebrity Mastermind
Celebrity Mastermind is a British television quiz show broadcast by BBC television. The show is a spin-off of the long running quiz show Mastermind, with the exception that all the contestants are celebrities. As with the main show, John Humphrys is the host and question-master...
. In that year he also appeared in BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
sitcom Lunch Monkeys
Lunch Monkeys
Lunch Monkeys is a British situation comedy, first shown on BBC Three in 2008.-Overview:Lunch Monkeys by David Isaac is a BBC Three comedy series set in the administration department of fictional personal injury law firm Fox Cranford. The stories focus on the support staffers who work in the...
as fireman Terry. He has appeared five times on 5 Live's
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
Fighting Talk
Fighting Talk
Fighting Talk is a topical sports show broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live during the English football season. Its first series aired in October 2003, and was presented by Johnny Vaughan. The second series featured Christian O'Connell. It is currently hosted by Colin Murray and is aired on Saturday...
quiz show, claiming four victories on the programme.
His material is drawn from his life's experiences, including fatherhood; cycling around the world; playing semi-professional football; and working as a nightclub doorman. His first television appearance was in 2007 on the RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
topical-comedy show The Panel where he regularly sat as a panelist until 2008. He then went onto the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
panel show 8 out of 10 Cats
8 Out of 10 Cats
8 out of 10 Cats is a television comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for Channel 4. It was first broadcast on 3 June 2005. The show is based on statistics and opinion polls, and draws on polls produced by a variety of organizations and new polls commissioned for the programme, carried out by...
before he appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Live at the Apollo. In December 2009 John started his own TV programme on LFC TV called John Bishop meets…, where he interviews former Liverpool football legends.
In 2010 he was a celebrity guest team captain on What Do Kids Know?
What Do Kids Know?
What Do Kids Know? Is a brand new family entertainment show exclusive to Watch, where celebrities and children celebrate the humour and bewilderment of Britain's generation gap. Hosted by Rufus Hound with resident team captains Joe Swash and Sara Cox. It has similarities to Small Talk...
along with Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound is a British comedian and presenter. He is also the winner of 2010 "Let's Dance for Comic Relief".-Career:...
, Joe Swash
Joe Swash
Joseph Adam Swash is an English actor and presenter. He once played Mickey Miller in the British television soap opera EastEnders. He is the older brother of Shana Swash, who played his on-screen younger sister Demi Miller until July 2006. He also won the TV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me...
and Sara Cox
Sara Cox
Sara Cox , known as "Coxy", is an English TV presenter and radio DJ, most well known for presenting the breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 between 2000 and 2003...
on Watch
Watch (TV channel)
Watch is a general entertainment channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as part of the UKTV network. The channel launched on 7 October 2008 on satellite through Sky and on cable primarily through Virgin Media.-History:...
. He has also appeared on BBC's Mock the Week
Mock the Week
Mock the Week is a British topical celebrity panel game hosted by Dara Ó Briain that launched in 2005. The game is influenced by improvised topical stand-up comedy, with several rounds requiring players to deliver answers on unexpected subjects on the spur of the moment.It is made by independent...
, and Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Act Your Age
Act Your Age (radio series)
Act Your Age is a panel game on BBC Radio 4 hosted by Simon Mayo. The series, created by Ashley Blaker and Bill Matthews , was first broadcast on 27 November 2008...
.
Bishop's debut DVD 'Elvis has left the building', was released on 15 November 2010.
In series 3 and series 4 (2009–2010), Bishop portrayed Emily
Emily Fitch
Emily Fitch is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Kathryn Prescott. She is introduced in the third series. Her sister Katie is played by the actress' real-life sister Megan Prescott.-Characterization:...
and Katie Fitch
Katie Fitch
Katherine "Katie" Fitch is a fictional character in the television series Skins, played by Megan Prescott. She is introduced in the third series...
's father in Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
. In 2010
2010 in film
The year 2010 saw many new films released worldwide. 2010 saw a dramatic increase and prominence in the use of 3D-technology in filmmaking and film releases after the success of Avatar in the format, with releases such as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Jackass 3D, all animated films and...
he appeared in Ken Loach
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
's Route Irish
Route Irish (film)
Route Irish is a 2010 drama-thriller film directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty. It is set in Liverpool and focuses on the consequences suffered by private security contractors after fighting in the Iraq War. The title comes from the Baghdad Airport Road, known as "Route Irish". The...
, which received its premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
2010 Cannes Film Festival
The 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 12 to May 23, 2010, in Cannes, France. The Cannes Film Festival, hailed as being one of the most recognized and prestigious film festivals worldwide, was founded in 1946. It consists of having films screened in and out of competition during the...
.
Bishop is currently a regular panelist on the Sky1 show, A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own (game show)
A League of Their Own is a comedy panel game that was first broadcast on Sky1 on 11 March 2010. It is hosted by Gavin and Stacey star James Corden and features Andrew Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp as team captains and Georgie Thompson and John Bishop as regular panellists, alongside two weekly...
, as well as a stand-up/sketch show for BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
entitled John Bishop's Britain
John Bishop's Britain
John Bishop's Britain is a British television programme presented by comedian John Bishop, each program has a theme e.g. food. It features stand-up, sketches and real-life stories from celebrity guests and members of the public on that particular topic. There have been two series filmed to date....
.
In 2010, Bishop took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala
Channel 4's Comedy Gala
Channel 4's Comedy Gala is a British stand-up comedy benefit show organised Channel 4 in aid of the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. The gig is filmed live at the O2 Arena in London, and then broadcast later by Channel 4...
, a benefit show
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
, filmed live at the O2 Arena
The O2 arena (London)
The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...
in London on 30 March.
On 11 July 2010, John came runner-up in the second-ever game of How Many Peter Jones'? on ITV's James Corden's World Cup Live.
He appeared on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programme Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
, Would I Lie to You?
Would I Lie To You? (TV series)
Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards...
, and on episode 3 of the I series of QI
QI
QI is a British comedy panel game television quiz show created and co-produced by John Lloyd, hosted by Stephen Fry, and featuring permanent panellist Alan Davies. Most of the questions are extremely obscure, making it unlikely that the correct answer will be given...
as a guest. He also chaired an episode of the 40th series of Have I Got News For You on 28 October 2010.
Awards
At the 2010 British Comedy AwardsBritish Comedy Awards
The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:...
, he won the Best Male Comedy Breakthrough Artist award.
He became the Number 1 'Star in a reasonably priced car' on Top Gear on Sunday January 23, 2011 after he appeared on the BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
show. He drove the Kia Cee'd
Kia cee'd
The Kia Cee'd is a front wheel drive small family car released in the European market by the Korean manufacturer Kia Motors in December 2006—superseding the Kia Spectra—and available as a five-door hatchback, three-door hatchback , and five-door estate with a choice of up to four...
around the test track in 1 minutes 42.8 seconds to become the fastest star in the latest reasonably priced car, knocking Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
off the top, his record lasted nearly half year until being knocked off by Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is most famous for his work on the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line...
(1 minutes 42.2 seconds) on Sunday July 17, 2011. He was also the fastest in the League of Their Own skeleton race, beating Georgie Thompson
Georgie Thompson
Georgina Jane 'Georgie' Thompson is an English broadcast journalist and television presenter for Sky Sports and Sky Sports News.-Education:...
, and James Corden
James Corden
James Kimberley Corden is an English actor, television writer, producer and presenter. He is co-creator and star of BBC comedy shows Gavin & Stacey and Horne & Corden, and acted in the 2009 film Lesbian Vampire Killers....
.
Personal life
Bishop was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
Mill Road maternity hospital. Bishop grew up near Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
after his family relocated from Huyton
Huyton
Huyton is a suburb of Liverpool within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, with some parts belonging to the borough of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Urban Area and has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with...
. He attended Brookvale High School. He has been married to his wife Melanie since 1993, they have three sons, the family lives in Didsbury
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
.
Bishop's hobbies include football and he is an avid Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
fan. His brother, Eddie
Eddie Bishop
Eddie Bishop , is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League in England for Tranmere Rovers, Chester City and Crewe Alexandra and also played and managed in non-league football....
, is a former professional footballer with Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
. In July 2010, Bishop took part in protests against then owners of Liverpool FC Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
and George Gillett
George Gillett
George Gillett may refer to:*George A. Gillett , New Zealand multi-code footballer*George N. Gillett, Jr. , American businessman, professional sports franchise owner*George Masterman Gillett, Member of Parliament for Finsbury, 1923–1935...
and later took part in a celebrity-studded protest video put out on Youtube.
It was revealed on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
, on 12 February 2010, that Bishop was a warm-up on the show. Bishop has been vegetarian for over 20 years, he talked about this on BBC2's 'Something for The Weekend
Something for the Weekend (2000s BBC TV series)
Something for the Weekend is a British television series, broadcast on BBC Two on Sunday mornings. It features cookery, drinks, interviews with celebrity guests and clips from the week's television, as well as classic clips in the 'Deja View' section...
' and his episode on food on his stand-up show 'John Bishop's Britain' . From the 1990s he worked as a Medical Representative for pharmaceutical company Syntex
Syntex
Laboratorios Syntex SA was a pharmaceutical company formed in Mexico City in 1944 by Russell Marker to manufacture therapeutic steroids from the Mexican yam....
. Until 2006, the father-of-three was working in sales and marketing for a pharmaceutical company, with a company car and pension plan, and gave it all up to become a full-time comedian.
Bishop pre-recorded a video message to the Labour Party's 2011 annual conference, which was being held in Liverpool.
Stand-up DVDs
{| class="wikitable" border="1"|-
!Live The Sunshine Tour
!2011
|-
| John Bishop Live The Sunshine Tour
|
|-
| The Sunshine tour
|
|-
External links
- JohnBishopOnline.com — official website
- John Bishop on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....