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John Bishop Connects Cooper’s ‘Is This Thing On?’ to His Marriage Reunion After London Gala

Bishop says a long‑ago stand‑up set led to counseling that inspired the film.

Overview

  • On BBC’s The One Show on January 20, John Bishop recalled a macabre onstage joke about keeping his wife’s head in the fridge that his estranged wife unexpectedly heard.
  • He said the awkward encounter sparked conversations that led them to Relate counseling and a reconciliation, adding they have now been married for 33 years.
  • The pair had previously separated for about 18 months around 2000–2001 and had begun divorce proceedings before repairing their relationship.
  • At a London gala screening, Bishop and wife Melanie appeared together as the film rolled out; the movie is directed by Bradley Cooper and stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern, with Cooper and Andra Day also featured.
  • Bishop says he told the story to Arnett, who wrote the screenplay with Cooper and Mark Chappell, shaping a loose adaptation rather than a direct biopic.