Born: 30th November 1966 (as John Marcus Bishop)
Episodes Broadcast: 2021-2022

Like Dan Lewis, the character he would play in Doctor Who, John Bishop was born in Liverpool. He attended Manchester Polytechnic, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science, and afterwards worked as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company. Bishop was also a semi-professional footballer between 1988 and 1991, playing midfield for several clubs. In 1993, he married Melanie Cornall; they would have sons Joseph, Luke and Daniel. Around the turn of the century, however, Bishop and his wife separated. Although they would reconcile after a year and a half, the experience prompted him to reevaluate his life, and he decided to try his hand at stand-up comedy. Bishop became a rapid success, and he was soon making regular television appearances in comedy specials and panel shows, including his own The John Bishop Show.

Eager to expand his horizons, Bishop tackled his first dramatic role in several episodes of Skins during 2009 and 2010. His movie debut came in Ken Loach's Route Irish, and he could later be seen in the 2017 comedy-drama Funny Cow. Bishop continued to tackle occasional television roles, including Little Crackers, Accused and Fearless. In 2012, he was a torchbearer for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Bishop's autobiography, How Did All This Happen?, was published the next year; a second book, How To Grow Old, followed in 2019.

In 2021, Bishop joined the cast of Doctor Who as Dan Lewis, companion to Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor. He very nearly had to relinquish the opportunity: he was originally scheduled for a series of stand-up performances during the planned recording dates, but his tour was postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, Bishop was available to make his debut as Dan in the season-spanning Flux. He returned for three specials during 2022, before exiting Doctor Who alongside Whittaker in The Power Of The Doctor.