Charlotte Minter
Published January 30, 2026 5:37pm
Updated January 30, 2026 5:40pm
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The idea for the film came after a conversation in the Netherlands (Picture: Jas Lehal/PA Media Assignments)
The Liverpudlian comedian John Bishop, has served as the inspiration for a Hollywood film called Is This Thing On?, but he wasn’t asked to star.
Will Arnett, 55, and Bishop, 59, met on a canal boat in Amsterdam, and the comic told the Arrested Development star about his unusual path into comedy.
After their chance conversation, Arnett had the beginning of an idea that would later become Is This Thing On?.
What followed was a seven year journey, during which Bradley Cooper came on board as director, Laura Dern was cast as the comedian’s wife, and Claudia Winkleman’s husband, Kris Thykier, got involved as producer.
And while you might have expected Bishop to play himself, or at least make an appearance in the film – that’s not the case.
During his appearance on BBC’s The Graham Norton Show, Bishop was asked why he didn’t have a cameo: ‘I was tempted but I wasn’t asked!’
Is This Thing On? is out now in UK cinemas (Picture: Jas Lehal/PA Media Assignments
The comic was on the sofa with an array of Hollywood stars (Picture: Jas Lehal/PA Media Assignments
He added humbly: ‘I don’t think a film by Bradley Cooper is going to be made better by me being in it.’
Arnett is playing the Bishop-adjacent character, but as it’s set in the US, he’s not attempting the accent.
The stand-up comic appeared on the show alongside Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, Oscar-winner Halle Berry, About Time star Rachel McAdams and singer Jessie Ware.
Speaking more about what it’s been like to have a movie inspired by his life, he said: ‘It’s really weird and strange.’
He elaborated by acknowledging the complexities that came with being involved in the writing process, because he was ‘too close to the story’.
Bishop said: ‘I had to step away.
A mutual friend convinced Bishop to share his story with Arnett (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Bishop is an avid Liverpool F.C. fan (Picture: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
‘I’m so glad I did.
‘There was a big portion of trust involved, but the end result is brilliant.
‘It really is a lovely film.’
Talking about how surreal the whole thing had been, including attending the film’s premiere with his family, Bishop explained: ‘This isn’t our life, it’s not our world so everyone was getting a bit excited beforehand and the boys said to me: “Dad, do not be a kn**head.
What did Metro think of Is This Thing On?
Senior Film & Entertainment Reporter, Tori Brazier, gave Is This Thing On? four stars:
What Is This Thing On? mines so well is the rich vein of real and honest comedy that can be found in moments of personal tragedy, without ever going over the top.
Dern initially draws the short straw as the estranged wife character, but Alex’s secret comes out in a most wonderfully hands-over-the-eyes moment – which allows her to shine with some perfectly played facial expressions – and things then take an unexpected turn.
It’s a turn you’d argue probably wouldn’t happen in real life – except for the fact it did for Bishop. There’s also a nice nod to him and his roots in one scene that drew a laugh of appreciation from the audience in my screening.
To read more, click here.
‘”Everyone on red carpets looks cool so don’t smile like you’re a competition winner!”
‘They all got the cool memo, and there I was grinning ear to ear!’
The couple split in 2000, but got back together (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Norton hosted the celebrities on his red sofa (Picture: Jas Lehal/PA Media Assignments)
Bishop has three children with his wife Melanie Bishop, who he split with for 18 months in his mid-thirties.
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This period of his life propelled him into the world of comedy, as he decided to take it up as a hobby during the break-up.
Fast forward a couple of years and at age 40 Bishop quit his job as a pharmaceutical sales representative and decided to pursue a career as a comedian full-time.
The Graham Norton show airs tonight at 10.40pm.
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