SIX years ago, John Bishop was working as a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company.
The Liverpudlian had enjoyed some success on the stand-up comedy circuit but it was only 2006 when he gave up his sales job for a life as a full-time comedian.
His first TV appearance was just five years ago and it was 2009 before he appeared to a wider audience on the BBC's Comedy Roadshow.
So, considering the 45-year-old has only been a full-time comic in the public eye for such a short period of time, it really has been a meteoric rise.
With his Rollercoaster tour taking in four nights at the Capital FM Arena, Bishop is clearly in the top echelon of stand-up stars. And, it's not hard to see why.
His easy going style has broad appeal and like most other successful comics his material is based on observations about life that we can all identify with. Variously touching on the Olympics, the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon and the ups and downs of married life, Bishop's humour always hits the sweet spot.
Clearly, Bishop has also become something of a celebrity in recent years. However, what he managed to do expertly was to avoid giving us the impression of being lost in showbiz.
His stories about the Olympic Torch Relay and meeting David Cameron mirror how we'd behave in the same situation, and it's quite a skill to name-drop and remain a man of the people at the same time.
Whilst Bishop was already massively popular, his elevation to national treasure came in March this year. Having cycled from Paris to Dover, Bishop then rowed the English Channel before running the 90 miles from Dover to London as part of his Sport Relief triathlon.
His efforts raised a staggering £3.4 million and formed part of this show – but not quite in the way you might expect.
The cycling element of his charity endeavour required – how shall I put it – 'beauty treatments' and his brilliant routine concerning a trip to Strictly Waxing was a real highlight, perfectly combining physical and observational humour. By the time the last five minutes was over – the most surreal end to a show I've ever seen – the entire audience were grinning from ear to ear.
Funny, warm and engaging, this was an entertaining show from a man at the top of his game.
The Liverpudlian had enjoyed some success on the stand-up comedy circuit but it was only 2006 when he gave up his sales job for a life as a full-time comedian.
His first TV appearance was just five years ago and it was 2009 before he appeared to a wider audience on the BBC's Comedy Roadshow.
So, considering the 45-year-old has only been a full-time comic in the public eye for such a short period of time, it really has been a meteoric rise.
With his Rollercoaster tour taking in four nights at the Capital FM Arena, Bishop is clearly in the top echelon of stand-up stars. And, it's not hard to see why.
His easy going style has broad appeal and like most other successful comics his material is based on observations about life that we can all identify with. Variously touching on the Olympics, the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon and the ups and downs of married life, Bishop's humour always hits the sweet spot.
Clearly, Bishop has also become something of a celebrity in recent years. However, what he managed to do expertly was to avoid giving us the impression of being lost in showbiz.
His stories about the Olympic Torch Relay and meeting David Cameron mirror how we'd behave in the same situation, and it's quite a skill to name-drop and remain a man of the people at the same time.
Whilst Bishop was already massively popular, his elevation to national treasure came in March this year. Having cycled from Paris to Dover, Bishop then rowed the English Channel before running the 90 miles from Dover to London as part of his Sport Relief triathlon.
His efforts raised a staggering £3.4 million and formed part of this show – but not quite in the way you might expect.
The cycling element of his charity endeavour required – how shall I put it – 'beauty treatments' and his brilliant routine concerning a trip to Strictly Waxing was a real highlight, perfectly combining physical and observational humour. By the time the last five minutes was over – the most surreal end to a show I've ever seen – the entire audience were grinning from ear to ear.
Funny, warm and engaging, this was an entertaining show from a man at the top of his game.
