NEXT time you are in Cottesloe, soaking up the sun on the sand or tucking into breakfast at a beachfront cafe, keep an eye out for Des Bishop.
It turns out the American-Irish funny man – and seasoned West Coast visitor – always stays in Cott when stopping over.
“I’m the perfect comedian for trips around Australia: a lot of them sit in hotels and do nothing but I’m a real beachgoer, so I stay in Cottesloe when I’m in Perth and swim every day and have breakfast at Barchetta,” Bishop said.
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READ NOW“I live a lovely Western Australian life when I’m here, although I do think about sharks every time I’m in the water – but whatever.”
At just 42, Bishop has achieved a lot.
His bio includes conquering testicular cancer (which he says sounds more dramatic than it is), mastering Gaelic and Mandarin and tangoing in Dancing with the Stars (Ireland) – and that doesn’t include his success in stand-up and TV making.
“My bio reads better than it is, really,” Bishop said.
“I love being a comedian and then it helps your comedy career when you do TV shows, and then to be able to do things like documentary and adventure projects is just a bonus.
“Sometimes it feels like it’s just chance that all these things have happened but one thing does lead to another.”
His childhood “in a very dysfunctional Irish/American family” is fascinating.
“I was 14 and flunked out of a Catholic high school in New York; they were stressful times and we didn’t know what was going to happen and my mother was overly worried about my behaviour, so in a moment of madness she sent me to boarding school in Ireland,” Bishop said.
“Actually a cousin suggested that I should go and I put it into my parents’ heads and six weeks later I was in Ireland.
“It was a good move really because I immediately got more interested in school – I really fit in there.
“Once I completely settled in I never wanted to leave – I’ve never really left. I’m living in New York at the moment but that’s for professional reasons; I didn’t move back because I missed it.”
Bishop will be in Perth in May with his new show Egorithm for the Perth Comedy Festival.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Des Bishop, Egorithm (Perth Comedy Festival)
When: May 4
Where: The Regal Theatre, Subiaco
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au