John Bishop Conquers America

Comedian John Bishop is cracking America – at the age of 57.

The Scouse funnyman is currently performing a mini stand-up tour across the pond, the first of his long career.

And his sets have been going down so well with fans, who’ve packed out his venues, he’s even being recognised on the street.

The father-of-three was snapped as he left a theatre in Philadelphia last week, the destination of his opening night.

A source said: ‘John’s been a real success in the States, comedy fans love him.

Comedian John Bishop is cracking America – at the age of 57 

The Scouse funnyman is currently performing a mini stand-up tour across the pond, the first of his long career 

‘He’s been surprised by the attention he received, he really wasn’t expecting it but the tour is going so well.

‘The response has been great and John will definitely be back for further gigs in the US pretty soon.’

John has performed in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Nashville, Chicago so far on the North American tour, as well as a night in Toronto.

His latest gig was in Denver on Sunday, before he takes in Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco.

John’s growing North American fanbase have taken to social media to laud the comic.

One fan wrote: ‘Thank you for such an amazing show in Toronto. Please come again in the future.’

Another said: ‘Thanks for an evening full of laughs.’

While a third commented: ‘I saw him last night in New York. He was brilliant. Really fun evening.’

John has performed in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Nashville, Chicago so far on the North American tour, as well as a night in Toronto

The star’s growing North American fanbase have taken to social media to laud the comic

John visited the US as a 19-year-old where he spent the summer coaching at North American football camps, shortly after he dropped out of college.

Posting on Instagram upon his return to Philadelphia, he reflected: ‘My 19-year-old self would never have imagined this is how it would be.

‘Sometimes it’s only when you go back to where you once sat that you realise how far you have gone. So much to be grateful for between then and now.’

John, who has been married to wife Melanie for 31 years, joked earlier this year he’s going through a ‘mid-life crisis’ after learning to ride a motorbike.

He’s intending to travel between gigs during his upcoming UK ‘Back At It’ tour on a bike having purchased one after passing his test.

Speaking about the bike, John said: ‘It all started with my father-in-law leaving me a scooter when he passed away.

‘So last summer I went over to France to collect the scooter and drive it to Spain. That was the first time I’d ridden a bike and it took a few days. I stopped at this hotel and these two fellas came in and they just both happened to have BMW motorbikes and I just thought that looks like the proper way of doing it.

‘So I then took my test – which is something I’ve always wanted to do.

‘And I thought, well I can make it part of my tour, so I can travel on the motorbike and do gigs along the way. So I got myself a BMW bike.’

He added: ‘Riding a motorbike gives you a whole new perspective – obviously you’ve got to be aware of the dangers – but the reality is that I’ve discovered a whole new culture that I knew nothing about.

‘There’s a whole world that I’m finding out about, it’s a hobby that I would never have even considered had I not been left the scooter, ridden it across Europe and met those fellas with their BMW bikes.’

As well as stand-up, John has become known for his TV work having filmed his own chat show, travelogue and even bagged an acting role on Doctor Who.

He’s helped raise millions of pounds for both Sport and Comic Relief, and also raised awareness surrounding the deaf community after making an ITV documentary with his eldest son Joe, who lost a substantial part of his hearing after developing Cogan’s syndrome, where the pair learned sign language together.