Interview with John Bishop

He plays Peter Cartwright, a father-of-two teenage sons trying his best to help 17-year-old Stephen (Robert Sheehan) and young Dom (Josh Bolt), come to terms with the imminent death of their terminally ill mother. Helping him out is palliative care nurse, Charlotte (Sheridan Smith).

So how did he become involved in the series helmed by his fellow Liverpudlian, Jimmy McGovern?

‘I became involved in the best possible way, my agent phoned me and said there is going to be a new series of Accused and there is a part there for you if you want it. I’ve been a fan of Jimmy McGovern's work for a number of years so I said yes before I even saw the script,’ he says.

As primetime TV drama debuts go, this is about as tough as it gets.

‘If Jimmy McGovern knocks and you are offered a part, you don't say, ‘can I ease myself into it?’’ says John. ‘Had Kenny Dalglish asked me to play for Liverpool last year I would have said yes without hesitation even though I am 45 and no good. Sometimes you just have to throw yourself into it and hope for the best.’

While he has acted before – in teen drama Skins and Ken Loach’s Route Irish – this marks a major shift for the 45-year-old.

‘I would never claim to be an actor as I have never had any training and apart from being in a panto, before Skins I had not acted,’ says John. ‘Skins was a fun role and I enjoyed it. The role of Frankie in Route Irish had a much more powerful message behind it and though I was only in the film briefly it was a great learning experience being with actors like Andrea Lowe and Mark Womack. What can I say? If all the acting that I ever do is a role in a Ken Loach film and a role in Jimmy McGovern drama then I will be more than satisfied!’

John’s episodes tackle the difficult subject of mental illness, with his character’s eldest son struggling to cope with his mother’s death, and the arrival in their family’s life of Charlotte.

‘Peter is just an ordinary family man doing his very best, like most of us are,’ says John. ‘I don't want to reveal too much of the plot but Rob Sheehan handles the mental illness of his character really well. As a nation we have changed our approach to mental health and it is well documented that at times these policies have meant some people fall through the cracks.’

John admits that sharing a bill with the likes of Sheehan, Smith and, in the second film, double Bafta-winner Anna Maxwell-Martin – as well as Tony Blair’s former director of communications, Alastair Campbell, who plays himself in his first acting role – was daunting. So what has he learnt from the experience?

‘What struck me is that the level of professionalism is massive; they were driven to make every take work and whilst there were often delays in getting everything ready for the take they were able to pick up exactly where they left off,’ says John. ‘If I could sum it up I learnt you have to know your lines, don't rush and don't be scared to try and be the character.’

Comedy fans should not be afraid, however. John has no plans for turning his back on stand-up to carve a career as a straight actor. His 53-date Rollercoaster Tour begins later this month.

‘As I said I would never claim to be an actor - I guess I just have to see how this performance is judged by other people,’ he says. ‘Stand up is where my heart is and as I am now just preparing for a new tour, I know that it is something that I would never not want to do…’