Comedian John Bishop has cancelled several upcoming appearances after breaking his ankle during a motorbike ride with astronaut Tim Peake. The comedian revealed that he suffered the injury on August 30 and later shared an update showing that his foot had swollen and bruised.
Bishop was due to perform at Somerset County Cricket Club’s ground in Taunton on September 11 alongside Justin Moorhouse and Sally-Anne Hayward. He has now pulled out of the event while his participation in Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 charity bike ride in Glasgow has also been cancelled.
Sharing details of the accident, Bishop said: “I went out for a motorbike ride with Tim Peake, who’s a brilliant lad and a great cyclist. I learnt a lesson today. Astronauts are better motorcyclists than comedians.”
He later said he would see a specialist over the weekend for a “clearer view on how it’s going to heal”.
Somerset County Cricket Club chief executive Jamie Cox confirmed that ticket holders for the Taunton show would receive full refunds.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing to be making this announcement, but John’s wellbeing has to be the main concern, and he must follow the medical advice he has been given,” Cox said.
“We apologise for any disappointment caused by these circumstances, which are entirely beyond our control.
“We would like to wish John a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on stage again very soon.”
Who Is John Bishop?
John Bishop is an English comedian, presenter and actor who became one of the UK’s most recognisable stand-up performers. He is particularly known for his Liverpool accent and observational style.
But comedy was not always his profession. Before entering the entertainment industry, Bishop worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative. He eventually left that career in 2006 as his stand-up work began to gain momentum.
By the time he began doing stand-up, he was already in his thirties.
When Did John Bishop Start His Comedy Career?
Bishop began performing stand-up at around 34, much later than many comedians. The late start did not prevent him from becoming a major name in British comedy. His career eventually expanded from comedy clubs to large venues and arena tours, with his stand-up work becoming one of the main pillars of his public profile.
John Bishop Football Career
Before comedy took over his professional life, Bishop was involved in football. He played as a midfielder at semi-professional level and was associated with clubs including Southport and Hyde United.
John Bishop Television And Acting Career
Bishop eventually moved beyond stand-up and became a familiar face on British television. He presented The John Bishop Show and appeared in a number of scripted television projects such as Skins and the BBC drama Accused.
One of his biggest acting roles came in Doctor Who. Bishop played Dan Lewis in the long-running BBC science-fiction series in 2021 and remainedwith the show until 2022.
John Bishop’s Charity Work
Charity has also been a major part of Bishop’s career outside entertainment. In 2012, he took on a demanding Sport Relief challenge that involved travelling from Paris to London through a combination of cycling, rowing and running.
The challenge raised around £4.2 million for Sport Relief. Bishop has continued to participate in sporting events for charitable causes like his planned involvement in Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4. But his latest injury means he will no longer take part in the Glasgow bike ride.
John Bishop Age
John Bishop was born on November 30, 1966. He is currently 59 years old.
John Bishop Wife And Children
John Bishop is married to Melanie Cornall. The couple got married in 1993 and have three sons together: Joe, Luke and Daniel.
John Bishop And Melanie Cornall’s Marriage Story
Bishop and Melanie separated in 2000 and spent around 18 months apart. During this period, Bishop was struggling emotionally and one Monday night went to Manchester comedy club Frog and Bucket.
He did not originally intend to build a career from the experience. According to the story he has shared over the years, he signed up for an open-mic slot because he did not want to pay the £4 entry fee. The performance became significant for another reason too.
Melanie was unexpectedly in the audience. She had been taken to the club by new colleagues who did not know that the comedian on stage was her husband.
During his performance, Bishop made a dark joke about his separation, saying that he missed his wife so much that he “kept her severed head in the fridge”.
Instead of ending the relationship for good, the evening helped bring the couple back into conversation. Melanie later told him: “The man I saw on stage was the man I married.”
The pair subsequently went to marriage counselling and eventually called off their divorce.
