A film based on the life of comedian John Bishop is being directed by Hollywood heavyweight Bradley Cooper.
John, 58, was formerly a semi-professional football player, being a midfielder for teams including Winsford United, Crewe Alexandra and Runcorn.
After studying social science, he later became a medical representative for the pharmaceutical company Syntex, where he worked until leaving to pursue his comedy career full-time at the age of 40.
In the years since he’s become known for his stand-up and appearing on TV shows including The Panel, Skins and Doctor Who, as well as hosting his own shows like John Bishop’s Britain, John Bishop’s Only Joking and The John Bishop Show.
It’s now been revealed that John is the subject of a new biopic, which will be directed by Bradley, 50, and written by Arrested Development star Will Arnett, 54.
The movie – titled Is This Thing On? – is a romantic comedy about a man who starts stand-up comedy after the breakdown of his marriage.
In 2000, when his marriage with wife Melanie was on the brink of divorce, John attended a comedy club in Manchester and decided to try his hand at stand-up.
The movie was first announced in 2023, when Deadline reported the name of the upcoming release and the fact that Bradley and Will would be involved.
Will is set to play the character based on John, while his wife will be played by Laura Dern.
Although plot details were kept under wraps, it was also revealed that John would be an executive producer.
Speaking on the latest episode of Richard Herring’s RHLSTP podcast, comedian Chloe Radcliffe, who appears in the film as a stand-up comic, spilled some additional details.
‘I think Will and John sat next to each other at a dinner 10 years ago and Will heard his story and was like “that rules”. And, so anyway, that’s the movie I just wrapped on four days ago.’
Although the film is inspired by John’s life, the characters’ names are changed, and the number of American cast members suggest it will be set in the United States.
Is This Thing On? Marks Bradley’s third time as a director after previously leading the 2018 remake of A Star is Born and 2023’s Maestro, both of which he starred in. Both picked him up several Oscar nominations.
Last year John, who is embarking on an anniversary tour later this year to mark 25 years since his first stand-up gig, revealed the joke that saved his marriage.
After marrying Melanie in 1993, seven years later they split for 18 months.
John first got on stage in Manchester’s Frog and Bucket at the age of 33 to cheer himself up after splitting from Melanie, agreeing to get on stage and try to make the audience laugh in order to avoid paying the £4 entry fee.
‘I used to do a joke about missing my ex so much that I kept her severed head in the fridge,’ he told The Mirror.
‘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.’
The chat ended in the couple agreeing to get counselling, and they got back together after 18 months apart, going on to have three sons – Joe, Luke and Daniel.
Metro has contacted Searchlight and representatives for Bradley Cooper and John Bishop for comment.
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