In a recent episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, comedian John Bishop opened up about his 25-year journey in stand-up comedy. As he celebrates this milestone, Bishop expressed his gratitude towards his fans by keeping ticket prices low for his upcoming tour. The comedian also reminisced about his appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show back in 2010, which was a turning point in his career. After that appearance, he went from selling 700 tickets a week to a staggering 18,000.
Bishop’s love for stand-up comedy is evident, and he recently decided to focus solely on it rather than pursuing other opportunities in acting and presenting. Starting from scratch after two decades in the industry is no small feat, and Bishop has even traveled to New York to develop new material. However, starting anew has presented its challenges. When performing in the comedy clubs of New York, Bishop discovered that they didn’t recognize him or understand his British humor. This realization came when an American audience member approached him after a set, mistaking him for another comedian.
During his conversation with Jonathan Ross, Bishop also touched upon his experience watching “Last One Laughing”, a comedy show where comedians compete not to laugh. When asked if he would ever participate, Bishop had no qualms in admitting that he wouldn’t last five minutes without bursting into laughter. He shared an anecdote about how he nearly ruined a serious documentary he worked on with Hugh Bonville due to his uncontrollable laughter. The historian mentioned a funny name, and Bishop couldn’t help but giggle like an 8-year-old. The name in question was Fanny Beater, the husband of his great aunt from Dublin in the 1920s. The mention of this name caused Bishop to explode into fits of laughter and nearly derail the production.
Although John Bishop may not be able to withstand the challenge of “Last One Laughing”, he continues to bring laughter and entertainment to audiences around the world. As he embarks upon his anniversary tour, it is clear that his talent and dedication to stand-up comedy have made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. With his infectious sense of humor and relatable storytelling, Bishop’s performances are sure to leave his audiences in stitches.
