Comedian quits chat show after he ‘couldn’t compete with Graham Norton’

John Bishop (right) didn’t think he could compete with Graham Norton (Picture: BBC/Isabel Infantes/PA Wire)

John Bishop has quit his chat show after struggling to compare himself to the likes of Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross.

Despite the Liverpudlian comedian interviewing big names like Sir Ian McKellen and Shania Twain on ITV’s The John Bishop Show, he has decided to step back from the programme after just two series.

The 58-year-old comedian insisted the talk show space is too ‘congested’ for another similar offering to break through.

‘I’m not going to do another series of my chat show,’ he told the Daily Star. ‘It was great to do, but I found that I was competing in a space that was congested.’

He added: ‘Graham Norton is brilliant at it and Jonathan Ross is brilliant at it. We really don’t need another chat show.’

The John Bishop show started in January 2022, but there hadn’t been any real updates since its final episode in February 2023.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bonnie Britain/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock (13441811p) (L-R) John Bishop and Sir Ian McKellen pop their heads out of the giant golden egg. Sir Ian McKellen, John Bishop, and Mel Giedroyc Launched the UK and Ireland tour of Mother Goose outside The Londoner Hotel in London. Mel Giedroyc hosted the event to announce the cast for the show. To mark the occasion Sir Ian McKellen and John Bishop hid in a big golden egg placed outside and Mel opened the hatch on the egg to reveal the pair that have been cast. Mother Goose Panto Launch, London, UK - 03 Oct 2022 — John was joined by the likes of Sir Ian McKellen (Picture: Bonnie Britain/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)

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Meanwhile, John also found himself frustrated by the fact that his interviews were so short, and instead he prefers to have in-depth conversations with guests on his podcast The Bishop Exchange.

‘A chat show doesn’t allow you to do the depth of interviews that I would like to have done. With television, you’ve got to fit into schedules,’ he explained.

‘But with the podcast, I can do it whenever I want to do it.’

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Brian J Ritchie/Hot Sauce/REX/Shutterstock (4210274au) Steve Carell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Johnathan Ross, Melanie Brown, Sir David Attenborough and Paolo Nutini 'The Jonathan Ross Show' TV Programme, London, Britain. - 18 Oct 2014 — John suggested Graham and The Jonathan Ross Show are enough for viewers (Picture: Brian J Ritchie/Hot Sauce/REX/Shutterstock)

Meanwhile, the stand-up comic previously announced a UK tour to mark 25 years in stand-up comedy, and revealed that all tickets will cost £25.

‘I can’t believe that next year it will be 25 years since I first performed. It’s been a rollercoaster,’ he said last year. ‘And I can’t thank the fans enough who have supported me all the way.

‘I wanted to mark the anniversary with a brand-new tour and do something to say thank you – so every ticket throughout the tour will be £25. I really hope you can come and celebrate with me.’

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