John Bishop tells Chris Moyles new film could have changed his marriage
John Bishop has revealed that a new film inspired by his life could have changed everything.
The comedian appeared on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X today, where he spoke about Is This Thing On?, a new film based on his marriage to his wife Melanie.
He suggested its story is so powerful that it might have prevented their separation in the first place had it existed earlier.
Speaking to Chris and Dominic Byrne, John reflected on the emotional process of handing over such personal material to filmmakers.
He explained that while developing the film meant giving up control, the final result captured the heart of his and Melanie’s story in a way that deeply moved them both.
Bishop said Melanie had summed up the experience perfectly, explaining that they had given something precious to the filmmakers and received it back intact.
He described her reaction after seeing the finished film as the ultimate reassurance that the story had been handled with care and honesty.
The film stars Bradley Cooper and Laura Dern, with Bishop revealing that Melanie spent time speaking directly to both actors during the development process.
He said she shared her side of the story with Dern, which helped shape several scenes, and later told Cooper that the film had become exactly what she hoped it would be.
During the interview, Bishop admitted the themes explored in the film hit particularly close to home. He explained that Is This Thing On? is not about stand-up comedy, but about relationships, misunderstanding and the possibility of finding love again after everything falls apart.
He told the show that, in hindsight, the film mirrors his own experience of a marriage breaking down before two people find their way back to each other. Bishop said seeing those misunderstandings played out on screen made him reflect on how easily relationships can unravel without communication and empathy.
John Bishop said: “This film’s not about stand-up comedy. It’s about relationships. It’s about misunderstanding. It’s about finding love again. And in all honesty, I think if this film existed, we probably wouldn’t have split up, because it’s about a marriage breaking down and then finding each other again.”
Chris Moyles responded by agreeing that the film highlights how common misunderstandings are in relationships, with Bishop adding that those moments are often what people recognise most when watching stories inspired by real life.
Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am – 10am and on Global Player.