John Bishop recently shared how a joke he told on stage helped mend his marriage with wife Melanie Bishop.
The 57-year-old comedian recalled that while they were going through a divorce after an 18-month separation, a joke about missing Melanie became a turning point for them.
Bishop first took to the stage at 33 in Manchester’s Frog and Bucket comedy club after their split, hoping to lift his spirits and avoid a £4 entry fee by performing.
What started as a one-off comedy gig eventually launched his career as one of the UK’s most popular comedians, leading him to quit his day job at 40 to pursue comedy full-time.
During those early performances, Bishop told a joke about missing his wife so much he “kept her severed head in the fridge.”
Reflecting on the joke, he realized that Melanie herself was in the audience. “We were at the decree nisi stage, just finalizing finances, and I remember thinking, ‘That joke’s going to cost me another £20,000.’”
Surprisingly, after the show, Melanie approached him at the bar, and instead of arguing, they started talking. That conversation led them to agree to counseling, which helped them reconcile. They’ve now been married for over 30 years and share three sons: Joe, Luke, and Daniel.
Melanie continues to be part of Bishop’s comedy sets, and it was her encouragement that kept him from leaving comedy just two years ago.
