It was only a couple of years ago when the name John Bishop would probably drawn the response John who? But those days have long gone now and this Scouse comic is probably one of the hottest tickets of Fringe 2009.

Having seen his last Edinburgh show I was keen to see more of this really funny guy, and following a couple of TV appearances on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and on the TV drama Skins I was obviously not alone.

Bishop has some fun with a young lad in the front row for a few minutes, before launching into the show proper, inspired by a documentary he watched post gig in a hotel.

The King was 42 when he died, the exact age Bishop is now, so he decided that the time was right to go to the gym, cue some hilarious material, what to wear, more funny stuff, in fact any subject he cared to talk about he had a raft of gags that were up with the very best.

The final segment of the show, as with last years version, featured him running some footage, which in fact he had described the action just prior to showing it. Such was the esteem the packed cabaret bar held him in spontaneous applause burst out during this.

Bishop is surely destined for the very top. If there are still some available then get yourself a ticket now, ‘cause there won’t be any available if you delay much longer.

*****

John Bishop: Elvis Has Left The Building

Company: - Phil McIntyre Entertainment

Venue: - Pleasance Cabaret Bar V 33

Dates: - 5 to 31 August 2009 (not 17 )

Times: - 20.00 to 21.00

Fringe Programme Page: - p65