11:22am Monday 25th January 2010
Stand-up sensation John Bishop may have dubbed his upcoming tour ‘Elvis Has Left The Building’, but anyone expecting sequinned jump suits, curled upper lips and some hip-shaking will be sorely disappointed.
The Liverpool funnyman is instead alluding to the fact that as he reaches his 42nd birthday, he has hit the age Elvis died, a fact that has led to some serious soul-searching on the part of the comedian.
Bishop explains: “I stumbled across it by chance and realising that Elvis was the same age as I am now gave me a bit of a jolt.
“It is all about reaching that age in your life where there is no going back.
“You are what you are, and should revel in it.
“It is a look at family life really as there is stuff happening to us all of the time.
“And the best thing is, some of modern life is so ridiculous you do not have to put any spin on it to make it funny.”
Although Bishop is eager to accept his current lot, a dip into his past throws up something entirely different.
Working in the pharmaceutical trade, the Scouser had no intention of turning his hand at comedy, until a 2000 upheaval changed everything.
He continues: “I was splitting up with the missus, and I popped into this pub because I wanted a cheap drink.
“It was an open mic night, and I thought why not get up and give it a go?
“It was weird really because I have never considered myself a joker or a show-off, in fact my friends are a lot funnier than me - as they keep reminding me!
“I just got up on stage and had a chat with the audience really, and that has been my style ever since.”
A reconciliation with the wife (and three sons) followed, and in 2006 the stand-up decided to go the whole hog and quit his job.
And the gamble has worked wonders, with Bishop becoming a fixture on radio, television (an avid Liverpool fan, he hosts shows on LFC TV as well as appearing in Skins) and also film, having recently completed work on Ken Loach’s upcoming movie, Route Irish.
And with a sizeable tour now on the horizon, Bishop is eager to enjoy the ride.
He finishes: “It is all a bit crazy really.
“Because I did not plan to do any of this I do not have a plan as far as the future.
“I just try to grasp every opportunity as it arises and that seems to have worked well so far.”
John Bishop, Wycombe Swan, January 27, 8pm, £12, 01494 512000
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