We were lucky enough to get tickets to John Bishop’s Q & A on the industry at Liverpool John Moores University, and it was enlightening as well as entertaining. He was too busy for an interview, but we managed to ask where he found inspiration when stuck for material, and this sums it up: ‘I just basically spend my whole life hoping something funny happens to me.’  

Another titbit we managed to jot down with regard to breaking into the industry was, ‘be flexible and stick at it’. One opportunistic chap wangled some work experience at John’s production company, and he expressed regret that most of the industry gravitates towards London, something he hopes to change.

And does he regret any career choices? ‘Wherever I go, it’s better than where I started.’ Except claiming his subject of expertise was the Irish potato famine for a game show.