John Bishop Biopic Premieres Amid Real Life Drama

For many, the magic of the movies is woven into the very fabric of their childhood. For one Liverpool local, that enchantment began at The Tudor cinema in West Kirby, a picturehouse that opened its doors in 1933 and stood just over the bridge from his mother’s shop. The author recalls, with a bittersweet nostalgia, the days of queuing for the Saturday morning “Tanner rush” at the Winter Gardens in Hoylake, clutching sixpence for cartoons, cowboy films, and the main feature. “There were three double seats for courting couples,” he remembers, a detail that paints a vivid picture of cinema’s role in community life. One particular horror film—featuring a man with a spider’s face—left him sleepless for nights, instilling a lifelong aversion to the genre. Yet, it also sparked a passion for movies that would never fade.

Fast forward to January 17, 2026, and the scene is the plush Everyman Cinema in Liverpool. The world of cinema has changed dramatically since those childhood days: now, guests recline in comfortable armchairs, sipping drinks and sampling gourmet snacks as they wait for the film to begin. On this particular Saturday, the invited audience included a who’s who of Liverpool’s cultural and sporting elite, all gathered for the premiere of a new movie—one that, fittingly, is all about the unpredictable intersections of life, love, and comedy.

The film in question is Is This Thing On?, a heartwarming and humorous biopic chronicling the life and career of comedian John Bishop. According to The Business Desk, the movie is a milestone in Bishop’s extraordinary journey, celebrating his 25 years of stand-up and the remarkable story he shares with his wife, Melanie. Will Arnett steps into the role of John, while Laura Dern delivers a passionate performance as Melanie. The film, directed by Bradley Cooper—his third directorial outing after A Star is Born and Maestro—delves deep into the couple’s marriage, their temporary split, and their eventual reunion, all set against the backdrop of the comedy circuit in its early days.

“It’s a great title—every comic has said that at one point, when they’re looking at a microphone,” the author notes, referencing the film’s name. The movie doesn’t shy away from the complexities behind the laughter; it explores the turmoil and vulnerability that often lurk behind a comedian’s public persona. Will Arnett’s stand-up sequences are lauded as “beautifully portrayed,” with silences on stage rendered “deafening,” capturing the tension and uncertainty that can haunt even the most seasoned performers.

But the story behind Is This Thing On? is as compelling as the film itself. The idea was born after a meeting on a barge in Amsterdam, and it has since garnered praise from critics for its genuine, unvarnished look at midlife crisis and personal reinvention. Bradley Cooper, who makes a cameo appearance as an insufferable actor friend, brings his signature blend of empathy and insight to the project. The film is set in America, but its roots are firmly planted in John Bishop’s real-life experiences.

One of the most intriguing threads woven into the narrative is the love story between John and Melanie Bishop—a story that, as it turns out, has its origins in a fateful meeting at Manchester Polytechnic in March 1988. According to entrepreneur John Whelan, who spoke at the Bold and the Brave interview series at Blackfriars House, Manchester, on January 21, 2026, he was dating Melanie at the time. “This was March 1988 and we didn’t split up till October 1988,” Whelan shared with a wry laugh. “And then it said at the time she was going through a slow motion breakup with a boyfriend. It was so slow motion I didn’t even realise it was happening.”

Whelan’s story—soon to feature in the film itself—adds a layer of real-life drama to Bishop’s biopic. As The Business Desk reports, Whelan gets a passing mention in Bishop’s biography, which someone gifted him for Christmas. While the romantic triangle might seem like the stuff of fiction, it’s just one episode in Whelan’s remarkable journey—a journey marked by resilience, reinvention, and the kind of twists that would be at home in any screenplay.

Whelan’s own life has been anything but ordinary. As he recounted during the Bold and the Brave event, a decade-long fraud trial involving the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) threatened to upend his career and reputation. He had served as financial controller and later finance director at Manchester-based software group iSoft when he was charged with misleading the stock market over a major Irish Health Authority contract. The first trial ended in a hung jury; in the second, the prosecution was caught tampering with evidence, and Whelan was acquitted. “You’re told you leave the court with your ‘good name intact’,” he told the audience. “They’re easy words. People will always have their own opinion. The state is a very, very powerful animal.”

The ordeal left Whelan effectively unemployable, forcing him to pivot into entrepreneurship. He founded Sapphire and later My Digital, ventures that would eventually restore his financial footing. Yet, the road was far from smooth. After being ousted from a private equity–backed role at PayStream—losing his own £250,000 stake in the process—Whelan clashed with institutional investors, including LDC and Maven. “Private equity isn’t cruel—it just does what it’s designed to do,” he remarked. “But it’s very expensive cash. The terms corrode your soul.”

Despite these setbacks, Whelan demonstrated remarkable tenacity. He remortgaged his home to buy Maven out, regaining majority control of My Digital. The company is now profitable and eyeing a liquidity event in 2027, with a successor CEO already in place. “It’s what shapes you,” Whelan reflected. “Most of our lives are pretty unremarkable. The chances of any of us even being here are incredibly small—on that basis alone, we’re all successful already.”

Whelan’s story is not just one of business and legal battles. He spoke with pride about his support for his hometown football team, Stockport County, and his younger brother Phil’s professional football career. But it’s his unflinching honesty about the scars left by his legal ordeal, and the resilience he discovered within himself, that resonated most with the Bold and the Brave audience.

Meanwhile, as the release date for Is This Thing On? approaches—set for January 30, 2026—anticipation continues to build. The film offers a candid, often humorous look at the realities behind the stage lights, the personal struggles that shape public triumphs, and the serendipity that can change lives forever. It’s a story of second chances, unexpected turns, and the enduring power of laughter—a fitting tribute to John Bishop’s legacy, and a reminder that life, like comedy, is often best appreciated with a touch of humility and heart.