Who is John Bishop? — Legendary UK comedian set to make Late ...

The Late Late Show is set to make its long-awaited return tonight, September 13, with a host of stellar guests joining host Patrick Kielty on the sofa.

One guest, however, is no stranger to the screen or the stage, with 400 live shows under his belt, meaning that tonight’s RTÉ appearance will be no stress for Liverpool native John Bishop.

Known worldwide for his stand-up masterclass and taking on the mantle of ‘Britain’s top comic,’ the 57-year-old has become a household name in the UK and Ireland thanks to his critically acclaimed live shows. But what do we know about the Liverpudlian comic?

Born in 1966 in the Liverpool Suburb of Everton in the Northwest of England, John Bishop grew up mainly in the Chesire towns of Runcorn and Winsford.

Bishop, the youngest of four children, came from a largely working-class family, with older brother Eddie, who became a professional footballer until the early 2000s.

After leaving school, the comedian studied English at Newcastle University, but that was short-lived. Bishop chose to pursue a degree in Social Sciences from Manchester Polytechnic, graduating with a Bachelor’s in his early 20s.

In 1993, the 57-year-old married his college sweetheart, Melanie, and between 1994 and 1998, the pair welcomed three boys, Joe (30), Luke (28), and Daniel (26). The couple, who have been together for 31 years, despite splitting briefly in 2000 for approximately 18 months, celebrated their pearl anniversary in 2023, spending a luxury weekend away with their wedding party in a countryside log cabin.

The comedian gushed about his wife in a social post about their marriage, writing: ‘After 30 years of marriage, the one lesson I have learnt is that I am a stronger, better man because she is the person who holds my hand and guides me through when all I can see is darkness.’

Before performing comedy, the Liverpool native worked in pharmaceutical sales to support his wife and children. Following his big break in comedy, Bishop was ranked in Forbes ‘Top 10 Highest Paid Comedians’ list, with earnings over almost £5.5m (€6.6m) per year, making him the richest comedian in the UK at the time.

Until 2019, the Bishop family lived at Whatcroft Hall, a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion in Northwich, Cheshire. In April 2019, despite his vocal criticism of the HS2 rail project, he sold the property for £6.2 million to the project and relocated to West Sussex.

In 2023, the comedian announced the death of his beloved mother, Kathy, who sadly passed away aged 80.

In October 2000, a then 34-year-old Bishop took to the stage for the first time with a stand-up routine, leading to his appearance in major new act competitions, including ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ and the BBC Comedy Awards.

In 2009, the father-of-three appeared as the first act in Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, sparking the start of an incredibly successful comedy career. Bishop was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy award the same year.

On 12 February 2010, during an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, it was revealed that Bishop had worked as a warm-up for the show prior to his TV breakthrough. In March of the following year, he appeared alongside fellow comedians Catherine Tate, David Williams and Alan Carr in a Music video for Take That’s Comic Relief single ‘Happy Now’.

Bishop has also appeared on the BBC genealogy show ‘Who do you think you are?’ and as of 2013, the comedian became the host of his own TV show, ‘John Bishop’s Only Joking’ on Sky One.

Bishop has also been no stranger to presenting duties over the years, presenting numerous shows, including the Royal Variety performance at the London Palladium in the Presence of King Charles and Camilla. He has also presented ‘John Bishop: In Conversation With…’ for W, which is set to return for a new series.

In August 2019, John Bishop stepped into sports entertainment, co-hosting the football show ‘Back of the Net’ on Amazon Prime Video with Peter Crouch and Gabby Logan.

In September 2020, he further expanded his media presence by launching the podcast ‘Three Little Words’ with Tony Pitts on the Crowd Network, a platform backed by Bishop and a team of former BBC executives.

Bishop leapt into acting in 2021 when he announced his role as Dan Lewis, the new companion to the Thirteenth Doctor in Doctor Who. In spring 2021, he also showcased his baking skills as a contestant on the fourth series of ‘The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off’.

Continuing his stage career, Bishop starred as Vic in the pantomime ‘Mother Goose’ alongside Ian McKellen, performing at London’s West End and touring the UK and Ireland from December 2022 to April 2023.

Bishop most recently joined several high-profile celebrities, including Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, where the pair discovered they both had family links in Dublin.

John Bishop’s rise in comedy was recognized at the 2010 British Comedy Awards, where he won Best Male Comedy Breakthrough Artist.

In January 2011, he set a record on Top Gear as the fastest ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car,’ though Rowan Atkinson later surpassed his time. He also showed off his competitive streak by winning the skeleton race on ‘A League of Their Own’.

Bishop’s achievements extend beyond entertainment; in July 2014, he received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University for his contributions to the arts and charity work. He was honoured in a ceremony at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.

In July 2018, Bishop won the Celebrity Animal Champion award at the RSPCA Honours Awards in recognition of his dedication to animal welfare.

In July 2019, he was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Manchester Metropolitan University for his charity efforts and contributions to comedy and the arts.

Bishop has participated in numerous fundraising attempts, collecting millions of pounds for charities such as Great Ormond Street, Sport Relief and Unicef.

Bishop donated £96,000 to the Hillsborough Family Support Group after being moved by personal statements delivered by the victims’ families at their inquests. In June 2014, he participated in his second Soccer Aid football match, again playing for England, losing 4–2 to the Rest of the World.

Bishop has also served as a host for comedy gigs at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.