Comedian John Bishop opens up about his relationship with his gay son – WATCH
The stand-up comic had some moving advice for parents of LGBT kids on 'The Jonathan Ross Show'.
By Will Stroude
Words: Will Stroude
John Bishop was already one of our favourite comedians, but the Liverpudlian funny man has taken a special place in our heart after opening up about his relationship with his gay son.
The stand-up comic, 51, used his appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday (November 10) to offer up some moving advice for parents of LGBT children, reminding them to make their kids “feel safe” at home in a hostile world.
“Having a gay son is just like having a son”, Bishop said. “Of the top ten things that I even think about him, being gay isn’t even on there. He’s just another son.
“And I wanted to reach out because I’ve learnt more since I’ve spoken more openly with my son.
Here’s @JohnBshop100 becoming our favourite person in the world right now ❤️🌈#LoveIsLove #Love #TheJRShow @JRossShow pic.twitter.com/Cdcth2VJUk
— ITV (@ITV) November 10, 2018
The former Skins actor, who was appearing on the ITV chat show alongside the newly-reformed Spice Girls, continued: “To the kids who are ten and eleven in the playground, who are standing on their own and don’t know where they belong and what group they belong to and try to play up to something, or feel isolated.
“And to their parents who think ‘I don’t know, my son doesn’t want to play football, he doesn’t fit in.’ To say it’s okay. Just love them for who they are and allow them to feel safe.
View this post on InstagramFamily Bishop at the LGBT Awards dinner. Nice to be out all together 😊 #prouddad
“And then those little digs and the little knocks and the little abuse that they subtly get that we don’t know about, perhaps they won’t penetrate as deep.”
Bishop’s comments drew a huge round of applause from The Jonathan Ross Show audience as well as his fellow guests, and were widely praised on social media.
The comedian later took to Twitter to thank viewers for their support, adding that the response to his appearance had been “heartwarming”
Thank you all for the supportive feedback from the @JRossShow last night night. I never expected to talk about my family but the positive feedback and the thought that it may help someone else has been heart warming. ❤️
— John Bishop (@JohnBishop100) November 11, 2018
“Thank you all for the supportive feedback from the @JRossShow last night night,” he wrote.
“I never expected to talk about my family but the positive feedback and the thought that it may help someone else has been heart warming.”
The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturdays at 10pm on ITV1.