Accidental comedian comes home; Paddy Hoey talks to ex-punter John Bishop.Byline: Paddy Hoey TALENTED Merseysider John Bishop has come a long way in a couple of years. The 36-year-oldHuyton born comedian has gone from being a punter who only dreamed of giving stand- up comedy a go, to being the warm-up man for Jonathan Ross's top ratedBBC1 chat show on Friday evenings. If anyone epitomises the old comedy cliche of just falling into it by accident, it is John, a married father of three who juggles his successful comedy career with a hectic home life and a daytime job in industry. Now with a three-week stint at the Edinburgh Festival Edinburgh Festival International festival of the arts, with an emphasis on music and drama. Founded in 1947 by Rudolf Bing, it is held for three weeks each summer. Its theatrical offerings include plays by major international theatrical companies; plays premiered at the looming, the former North West Comedian of the Year is coming back to his home city for a one-man show at the Neptune theatre
The Neptune Theatre, built in 1913, is one of Liverpool's many theatres. as part of the Liverpool Comedy Festival. He has a unique style. Some nights he does most of his set just talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to the audience about the things he's seen that day or any old stuff off the top of his head. ``I get such a buzz from making people laugh,I can't think of a better thing in the world,''he says. Where some comics are rigidly still and plough through the same material every night,John patrols the stage nonchalantly,chatting with the audience,getting laughs out of the strangest of things. At last year's festival he concocted a string of great gags from the Royal Court's ancient stage curtains. Then in one of his TV appearances it was the balsa wood Noun 1. balsa wood - strong lightweight wood of the balsa tree used especially for floats balsa Ochroma lagopus, balsa - forest tree of lowland Central America having a strong very light wood; used for making floats and rafts and in crafts texture of those biscuits served in posh coffee houses which got the biggest laugh. It's that freshness that keeps him going,as he says: ``When I am doing stuff I have just thought up and I'mlaughing,I say to the audience: `You'relaughing at this and think it's funny - so do I.It's the first time I have heard it, too'. ``No two shows are the same, but I'm just pointing out things people have seen themselves. ``You always have to remember that the audience has come to laugh. Some comedians think it's the audience that owes them,but they have paid their money to have a laugh.'' He draws favourable comparison with Billy Connolly. But which comedians stand out as his favourites? ``I love Tom O'Connor Tom O'Connor (born October 31 1939, Bootle, Merseyside) is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for presenting game shows such as Crosswits, The Zodiac Game, Name That Tune and Gambit. Early life O'Connor attended St. ,''he says,``Mum and dad used to play a Tom O'Connor tape in the car when we were on holidays and I loved that,his kind of conversational style. ``There's this idea that there's mainstream and alternative comedy,but I am a father of three,I can't be any more mainstream. I don't care what people think about me as long as they laugh. ``I don't care about those people who say `That wasn't very esoteric'or `that's funny but not very clever'.I don't care that people don't thinkI'mlike (famous US alternative stand-ups)Lenny Bruce or Bill Hicks Hicks , Edward 1780-1849. American painter of primitive works, notably The Peaceable Kingdom, of which nearly 100 versions exist. ,just as long as they have a good laugh.'' John Bishop,Neptune theatre, Friday,July 11,8pm.Tickets: pounds 10 (pounds 8conc), 0151-709 7844. CAPTION(S): WARM-UP MAN: John Bishop takes starring role at the Neptune theatre |
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