John Bishop admits ‘impossible’ Doctor Who role was down to Covid: ‘It was a godsend!’

Fans of John Bishop, 54, may be surprised to see him fending off aliens and battling other outer-space monsters as he appears next to Jodie Whittaker in her final series as Doctor Who, which returns to BBC later this month. While the comedian admitted he originally had to turn down the offer, the Covid pandemic made it all possible.

John recalled being offered the role as Dan, the Time Lord’s new companion.

His casting was unveiled following the New Year’s Day special Revolution of the Daleks.

But despite being extremely “flattered” he was considered for the role, he intiially had to say no.

In a new interview, the Scouser remembered the moment in early 2020 when he was asked by show runner Chris Chibnall to join the cast.

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“It was a godsend!” he chucked.

The funnyman completed a screen-test over videocall, and was then invited to travel down to Cardiff for a secret “chemistry test” with Jodie.

He admitted he was feeling the pressure as he boarded the Tardis for the first time as he joined forces with the first female Time Lord.

“If we’d done it in some audition space in London, it would have been a very abstract thing,” he shrugged.

“But I had to film an audition scene in the Tardis with Jodie.

“So that was, you know, a bit of pressure!”

The Doctor will return with Yaz and Dan in Series 13, returning to BBC One on 31 October.

John Bishop’s full interview is available to read now in Radio Times.