My Dad was nearly James Bond – an interview with Des Bishop
Des Bishop has a new book out. My Dad was nearly James Bond is “a son’s funny, frank and moving story of the lessons his father taught him”. It’s also very honest, tender and interesting. I met with Des and his mother yesterday to find out more about the book.
My Dad was Nearly James Bond published by Penguin Ireland is in all book stores now. Having delved into it from buying it Wednesday I had to congratulate Des – and his mother – on the openness and raw emotion in the pages. As much about Des as it is Mike, his father, it’s a very simply told memoir of the life of a man and how much he meant to his son. You’ll find out things you never knew and hopefully be as impressed with the Bishops and how they dealt with Mike’s illness as I was.
It also has this photo of Des as Humpty Dumpty in his first ever performance:
I met Des and his mother yesterday for a coffee and a chat about the book, about what Des is up to and how comfortable his mother is about the book:
There are more details on the book on the Penguin website:
For years acclaimed comedian Des Bishop wanted to write a show about his father. Mike Bishop was a model and actor who gave up that life to become a hard-working man of the suburbs – a good husband, a caring father, a responsible citizen. Still, he sometimes talked wistfully about the glamourous life he might have had.
All that changed after Mike was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late 2009. His regrets about his fantasy other life crumbled. He cherished his family and they came together to surround him with love, laughter, tears and talk. Lots of talk.
The insights that emerged during Mike Bishop’s illness became the show his son always wanted to stage. He and his father collaborated on My Dad Was Nearly James Bond – a hilarious, outrageous and moving celebration of what Des calls ‘the heroics of fatherhood’. The show has attracted rave reviews and sell-out audiences around the world.
Mike Bishop died in February 2011. Now Des has written a memoir inspired by the stage show, by the startling discoveries he made about his father’s background in the months before he died, and by his own realisation of what it means to finally grow up. The book is a funny, wise and unforgettable story of a father, a son and what really matters.
You can find on http://facebook.com/desbishop and on twitter at @desbishop. The book is a great read. Congratulations again sir.
