Comedian John Bishop has shared a remarkable personal story about how a particularly dark and shocking joke concerning his wife ultimately became the catalyst that saved their marriage. The performer disclosed that he and his wife Melanie were in the final stages of divorce proceedings when an unexpected encounter at a comedy club changed everything.
A Fateful Night at The Frog and Bucket
John Bishop recounted this pivotal moment during an appearance on BBC's The One Show on Tuesday, January 20th. He explained that after separating from Melanie, he found himself at The Frog and Bucket comedy club in Manchester one evening. To avoid paying the entrance fee, he put his name down on the list to perform stand-up, marking the beginning of his comedy career.
The Joke That Changed Everything
"What happened in our life is Melanie came with some friends that she was working with, didn't know I was doing stand-up comedy," Bishop told presenters Alex Jones and Lauren Laverne. "And I said a joke on the stage about not living with my wife anymore but keeping her head in the fridge. Not the best joke I've ever said!"
He continued with vivid recollection: "I'm on stage and I said that, I looked to the left and the head that was meant to be in the fridge was in the audience!"
From Divorce Proceedings to Reconciliation
The couple had reached what Bishop described as "the final stage of the divorce" when this unexpected encounter occurred. His initial reaction was practical concern: "I thought, 'Oh, this is going to make the divorce more expensive. This is going to cost me 10 grand and that joke's not worth it.'"
However, the outcome proved dramatically different. After the performance, Melanie approached him and said, "That was quite funny." She added meaningfully, "Well, it's like seeing the man that I met."
Rebuilding Through Professional Help
This reconnection proved transformative. "We ended up, through that process, we ended up going to Relate and getting our marriage back," Bishop revealed. Relate is the UK's largest provider of relationship support services, offering counselling to couples facing difficulties.
The impact of that single comedy performance has endured for decades. "We've been married now for 33 years," Bishop confirmed, highlighting how what began as a macabre joke evolved into a foundation for marital renewal.
From Personal Experience to Hollywood Film
Bishop was discussing his experiences on The One Show because they have been adapted into a Hollywood film titled Is This Thing On? The movie stars Will Arnett and is directed by Bradley Cooper, drawing inspiration from Bishop's early career gigs and personal journey.
"And these two people find each other again through Alex finding stand-up comedy," Bishop explained about the film's narrative. "And that's exactly what happened to me."
The story serves as a testament to unexpected second chances and how humour, even of the darkest variety, can sometimes bridge seemingly irreparable divides in relationships.
