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Comic match-up as Bishop heads for Vegas

Miles Skinner
29/12/2005

COMEDIAN John Bishop is in talks with Johnny Vegas about writing a new sitcom together.

The pair, who first met when they performed stand-up in the city centre's Frog and Bucket pub, now want to sit down and devise a winning formula for the as-yet untitled comedy.

John is keeping tight-lipped over the plots, but the two funny men have held a meetings at his home in Fog Lane, Didsbury.

And it's just one of several comic irons he has in the fire.

"I have a radio play which the BBC are planning to turn into a series," John said.

"I'm supposed to be writing a book and I've also got a regular show on the radio. The last year has gone really well," he said.

"As far as the sitcom goes it's very early stages developed from an idea I had bubbling away."

John, a 34-year-old father-of-three recently gave up his day job to devote more time to his comedy. He added: "All of it may happen or none of it at all - it's just nice to have the time to give everything a go. The next 12 months will be a big year for me."

The award-winning performer, lives with wife Melanie and their three sons Joe, 11, and Luke, 9 and Daniel, 7.

He describes his career as less than a struggle. "To be honest, I kind of fell into it.

"I was walking around Manchester on my own about five years ago and thought I may as well pop into the Frog and Bucket," he said.

"I'd never been to a comedy club before and the bloke on the door said it was £4 to get in, £3 if you signed up for a spot. I put my name down to get the quid off, thinking I could leave before my turn came up.

"But I went through with it and the rest is history."