John Bishop cancels Dublin shows on 'compassionate grounds' | Understudy steps in on Mother Goose

John Bishop cancels Dublin shows on 'compassionate grounds'

Understudy steps in on Mother Goose

John Bishop has been forced to pull out of his appearances in Dublin this week on compassionate grounds.

The comic was due to star alongside Sir Ian McKellen in the pantomime Mother Goose, which has been touring since debuting in London’s West End before Christmas.

Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre, which is hosting the show this week, has released a statement saying: ‘We regret to announce that John Bishop is unable to appear in this week’s run of Mother Goose. Mr Bishop has taken compassionate leave from the show

‘Gabriel Fleary, the Holby City and RSC actor and Mr. Bishop’s standby will play the role of Vic Goose alongside Ian McKellen as Mother Goose.’

The comic also has a less flattering starring role in Dublin this week – as he is involved in a bitter business dispute that has made it to Ireland’s High Court.

He is a director of Hears Technology, a software company set up to help people with hearing issues. But a fellow shareholder has accused him of ‘irrational, unfair, wholly unfounded and oppressive’ behaviour.

As reported by the Irish Times and elsewhere, Maltese-registered BAK Holdings accused the comic of effectively winding down the business and trying to ‘intimidate and bully’ BAK into walking away from it. They also made a point of saying he terminated the contracts of all of Hears staff  ‘while he was attending Glastonbury’.

A letter from  Bishop’s solicitors denies he did anything wrong, saying he no choice but to lay off staff because of BAK’s attempts to ‘scuttle’ the business.

It follows a separate case, yet do be settled, in which Hears has accused BAK director Brendan Morrissey of defrauding it out of around €1million.

The new case has been adjourned for a month.

Other shareholders in Hears incude U2 drummer Larry Mullen and the comedian’s son Joe, who  lost most of his hearing at the age of 15.

Last year the Bishops made an ITV documentary about the ‘miscommunication and misunderstanding’ deaf people faced. It also featured the comic learning British Sign Language to the point he could perform stand-up in it.

Published: 23 Mar 2023

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