The remarkable journey of John Bishop, from a factory worker residing on a council estate to a celebrated comedian with a net worth of £4.3 million, is a quintessential rags-to-riches narrative that could easily form the basis of a Hollywood blockbuster. This is precisely what has transpired for the down-to-earth Scouse comic, whose extraordinary life tale has been adapted into a major motion picture by the esteemed Bradley Cooper.
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Spotlight
Many Britons will recognise John Bishop, now 59, for his self-deprecating humour and quick wit, which have made him a favourite on popular panel shows such as Mock The Week and Have I Got News for You. Now, he is poised for global fame as the subject of Is This Thing On?, an American comedy film loosely inspired by his life. The movie notably explores how turning to stand-up comedy helped John save his marriage to his wife, Melanie.
A Star-Studded Production
The film, which holds a respectable 87 percent 'fresh' rating on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, was co-written by Oscar-nominee Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett, and Mark Chappell. Will Arnett stars as Alex Novak in the film – a character who seeks new purpose in the New York comedy scene after his marriage unravels, while Laura Dern portrays his wife, Tess, who must confront the sacrifices she made for their family.
Arrested Development star Will Arnett recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show to discuss the project's origins. He revealed he was 'really taken' by John's story after they were introduced by a mutual friend. 'I asked him if I could make a movie about his life, which is kind of a daunting thing to ask somebody,' Will recalled. 'It's a weird thing to be asked, but he's been great throughout and that was really the genesis of it.'
The Early Years and Academic Pursuits
As a child, John could never have dreamed of the fame and fortune he would eventually attain. He was raised on a council estate by his father, Ernie, a labourer, and his mother, Kathleen, who washed dishes in a factory canteen. John earned £35 per week working in a factory while studying for his A-Levels at night school. He later pursued a degree in Social Science at Manchester Metropolitan University.
It was at the university library that he met his wife, Melanie, who was on the same course but a year ahead. The couple tied the knot in 1993 and went on to welcome three sons: Joe, 31, Luke, 29, and Daniel, 27. While they are now gearing up to celebrate their 33rd anniversary in May, their marriage nearly ended following an 18-month period of separation in 2000 and 2001.
A Marriage in Crisis and a Comic Intervention
At the time, John was working as a salesman for the pharmaceuticals company Syntex and had grown disillusioned with life. He previously told the Daily Mail: 'We had three kids, and I was working all the hours God sends. So I'd lost my sparkle, I suppose. I'd get out of the car on my phone, walk into the house, go into the study and carry on working. Now I feel like punching myself in the head. I was doing what I thought was right, but I wasn't putting the attention where I needed to. So Mel and I split up.'
Living alone in a semi-detached house, he was at risk of spiralling into depression. 'Because of the travelling in my job I didn't know where I was going to be during the week, so I could only have the kids every weekend, which meant that on Mondays I was on a downer. I used to drop them off at school knowing I wasn't going to see them until the weekend and it just wiped me out. Mental health awareness wasn't like it is now, where men are encouraged to chat to each other.'
Fate intervened one Monday night in October 2000 when, to cheer himself up, he headed to Manchester's Frog & Bucket comedy club. 'I wanted to go out and decided to go there,' he recalled. 'I didn't know anything about comedy. The bouncer said it was an open-mic night, but I didn't even know what that meant. He said, "If you put your name down you only have to pay £4." So I did, just to save a few quid because getting divorced is costly. I didn't expect to get called up on stage!'
'The first man came on and did an impression of a chicken. It was the maddest thing I've seen. Then I was called up second, otherwise I would probably have left. I'd have paid £4 just to get out. I thought, "Whoa!" I'd never been on a stage. But then I thought, "What have I got to lose? I'll only be going back to an empty house." So I did it… and that was it. I would just go on about therapy and divorced dads and what was going on in my life. Three months later I got my first headline spots there. I often reflect upon the fact that my life could have been very different for the sake of that ten minutes.'
Secret Comedy Career and Marital Reconciliation
John kept his second job as a comedian under wraps for ten months, but his secret was exposed when he was invited to join a group of friends celebrating a birth at the Frog & Bucket. 'You can only keep things secret for so long. I was working at the club that weekend so I told the manager not to put my name on the door, just to announce me from the stage. I was with my mates wetting the baby's head, then I said I was going to the toilet and the next thing I walked out on stage. They were all like, "Whaaat?"'
When Melanie eventually found out, it saved their marriage. 'She came to the Frog & Bucket on a work do. I was meant to have the kids but I had a call to say a comedian had dropped out, so I got a babysitter and went to the club. I used to do a joke about missing my ex so much that I kept her severed head in the fridge. It's not the best joke, and as I said it I realised the head that was meant to be in the fridge was in the audience.'
'We were at the decree nisi stage in our divorce at this point, so we only had to finalise the finances. I remember thinking, "That joke's going to cost me another £20,000." Afterwards she came over to the bar. I was expecting a row but instead we started chatting.' This led to the couple agreeing to attend counselling, and a reunion soon followed.
A Lasting Partnership and Milestone Celebrations
Today, Melanie is not just his soulmate but also his mentor. 'She comes to see me when a tour starts and then again six weeks or so later. She can be honest with me and tell me what's good and bad. If I've got any television decisions to make, I always ask her. In many respects she's my audience. If I can make Melanie laugh, then I know it's funny.'
In 2023, John and Melanie celebrated their Pearl wedding anniversary, with Melanie slipping back into her original wedding dress to mark the 30-year milestone. John documented the occasion on Instagram, sharing snaps of their party and writing: '30 years ago today @melbish1 walked down the aisle in that dress. She took my breath away then and still does today. Last weekend we spent time with our bridesmaids (Jane and Jane) ushers (John, Paul, Sergie and Jimmy) and best man (our Eddie) who are still the most important people in our lives and whose support has helped reach this far.'
'It is amazing how quickly three decades pass. In that time there has been a million laughs and a million tears. Life doesn’t always comply with the perfect world that social media presents - no matter who you are there are days when it's hard to see a way through. There are some things I wish I had done better and there are others that blow my mind because they went so well. 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. She still fits in the dress and my heart still fits in her pocket.'
Is This Thing On? was released in the United States last month and is set to open in UK cinemas on January 30.
