Bishop performed stand-up comedy for the first time in Manchester in October 2000, and the following year, made it to the final of all the major new act competitions, including "So You Think You're Funny", the "Daily Telegraph" Open Mic Awards, the BBC New Comedy Awards, and the City Life North West Comedian of The Year Award, which he won. In 2002, he was named best newcomer by BBC Radio Merseyside, and in 2004, he won the North West Comedy Award for best stand-up. In 2009, Bishop appeared as the first act on "Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow" in Manchester. That year, he appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where his show "Elvis Has Left the Building" was nominated for an "Eddie" (Edinburgh Comedy Award).