Kevin Brian Bishop[1] is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his roles as Jim Hawkins in Muppet Treasure Island, Stupid Brian in My Family, and Nigel Norman Fletcher in the 2016 revival of Porridge, and as star of The Kevin Bishop Show, which he co-wrote with Lee Hupfield.

Kevin Bishop
Bishop at the premiere of Irina Palm in 2007
Born
Kevin Brian Bishop
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
Years active1994–present
Spouse
Casta Bishop
(m. 2006)
Children2
Comedy career
GenresTheatre, film, TV
Subject(s)

Life and career

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Bishop's first role was in Grange Hill. His second role, at age 16, was as Ben Quayle in Silent Witness. He played Stupid Brian in three episodes of My Family. He starred in Muppet Treasure Island as Jim Hawkins.

In 2005, he portrayed the late comedian Dudley Moore onstage in Pete and Dud: Come Again, a drama charting Moore's turbulent relationship with Peter Cook, which debuted at the Assembly Rooms as part of the Edinburgh Fringe before transferring to The Venue in London's West End in March 2006. In August 2007 he appeared as the title character in Channel 4's satirical spoof documentary "Being Tom Cruise", a spin-off of Star Stories. In September 2014, Bishop appeared in the one-man show Fully Committed at the Menier Chocolate Factory, in which he played forty characters.

In 2013, Bishop appeared in the American comedy series Super Fun Night, written by and starring Australian comedic actress Rebel Wilson. The show ran for one season.

In August 2016, Bishop starred in the revival of classic 1970s BBC sitcom Porridge. He played the role of Fletch, grandson of Ronnie Barker's original main character, locked up for cyber-crime.[2][3] Originally a one-off, the show was commissioned to full series in October 2016. The first series was broadcast in October 2017 on a 6-week run on BBC One as well as the full series being released at the same time on BBC iPlayer.

In 2016, Bishop played Nigel Farage in a one-off BBC Two comedy series entitled Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back.[4]

In 2017, Bishop became the speaking voice for 2-D, fictional lead singer of British virtual band Gorillaz.[5]

Selected filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1996 Muppet Treasure Island Jim Hawkins Also played the role of a boy soprano in musical numbers
1997 Silent Witness, Series 2, "Friends Like These" Ben Quayle
Pie in the Sky, Series 5, "The Apprentice" Nicky Banks
2000 The Big Finish Kevin
2001 My Family (TV) "Stupid" Brian
2002 L'Auberge espagnole William
Food of Love Paul Porterfield
2005 Peep Show (TV) Ollie
Russian Dolls William
2006–2008 Star Stories Various
2007 Irina Palm Tom
2008–2009 The Kevin Bishop Show (TV) Himself
2011 A Few Best Men Graham
2012 May I Kill U? Baz
Keith Lemon: The Film Dougie
2013–2014 Super Fun Night (TV) Richard Royce
2015 We’re Doomed! The Dads Army Story James Beck (TV film)
2016 Benidorm Peter Andre tribute act Series 8 Episode 7
The Rack Pack Barry Hearn
Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back Nigel Farage
2016–2017 Porridge Nigel Norman Fletcher August 2016 one-off special episode: 2017 Series 1, 6 episodes
2017 Tracey Ullman's Show Various Series 2, 6 episodes
2017 Detectorists Kelvin Series 3, episode 3
2020 Song Machine 2-D (Web series)
2021 Inside No. 9 Arlo Episode: “Wuthering Heist”

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1997 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor Muppet Treasure Island Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor Nominated
2006 British Comedy Awards[6] Best Male Comedy Newcomer Star Stories Nominated
2007 British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Actor Nominated
2008 British Academy Television Awards Best Comedy Programme (shared with Lee Hupfield, Elliot Hegarty, and Philip Clarke) Nominated
2009 British Comedy Awards Best Sketch Show The Kevin Bishop Show Nominated
2010 British Academy Television Awards Best Comedy Programme (shared with Lee Hupfield, Dominic Brigstocke, and Samantha Martin) Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005". Ancestry.com.
  2. ^ Flint, Hanna (7 July 2016). "FIRST LOOK at BBC's Porridge remake starring Kevin Bishop as Fletcher's grandson". Metro. London. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  3. ^ Glanfield, Tim (28 August 2016). "Why did they have to remake Porridge?". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back". BBC iPlayer. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. ^ Beaumont, Mark (21 April 2017). "Watch Gorillaz' first ever live NME interview". NME. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  6. ^ "British Comedy Awards 2006: The Winners". Digital Spy. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
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