Comedian Kevin Bishop announces split from ‘drinking buddy’ wife after overcoming alcoholism battle
Comedian Kevin Bishop has revealed he was an alcoholic who has been sober for six years.
The actor, known for his role as Nigel Norman Fletcher in the 2016 Porridge reboot, opened up about his battle with alcohol addiction and also revealed he has split from his wife of 19 years.
Bishop admitted his drinking had spiralled out of control before he quit alcohol.
The former Grange Hill star described how he would disappear on drinking binges after what was meant to be just a casual pint.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Elon Musk sparks fury from US actress after prompting ‘insane death threats’ with fake casting callITV Coronation Street’s Jack P Shepherd drops worrying update over soap future amid mass cast exitsDisney Lilo & Stitch remake sparks fiery debate as film fans rage at ‘LAZY’ rehash: ‘Begging STOP!’
Bishop described his relationship with alcohol in stark terms, stating: “I’m an alcoholic.
“I’ve got an allergy to alcohol so whenever I drink, I have a phenomenon of craving that kicks in and I can’t stop.”
The comedian explained how a simple social drink could quickly spiral out of control.
“If I went for a pint with an actor in Covent Garden, I would then go on the missing list,” Bishop quipped during a candid chat on the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast.
The 44-year-old also detailed how getting sober cost him his marriage to his now-ex-wife Casta, whom he was married for 19 years.
He joked his wife had now “lost her drinking buddy,” with the split from the mother of his two children coming soon after he got sober.
“I managed to do five years of complete sobriety, and I loved my life, and then my wife missed her drinking buddy and encouraged me to drink again, she said I wasn’t an alcoholic,” he reflected, explaining: “Then within 21 months everything fell apart.”
One particularly embarrassing incident occurred during a film promotion in Australia with Grease star Olivia Newton-John.
Bishop was so intoxicated that Newton-John attempted to sober him up before they were due to walk the red carpet together.
The actress intervened when she realised the state Bishop was in, trying to make him presentable for the promotional event.
The incident likely served as one of many wake-up calls on his journey to sobriety, with Bishop’s alcoholism having also taken a toll on his marriage.
“When you get sober, you change; the person that she met and was initially attracted to is now a different person,” he explained.
Despite his past struggles, Bishop is now in a much better place. The former Grange Hill star has successfully maintained his sobriety for six years.
Kicking the drink has allowed him to rebuild his life and career, with Bishop reportedly having some exciting new projects in the pipeline.