“If I’d gone to Istanbul, none of this happens!” - John Bishop on Liverpool story Hollywood loved

On this week’s episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete and Chris are holed up in a fancy hotel room ahead of a Hollywood-style chat with none other than John Bishop. From ball boy chaos at Watford to AFCON towel-gate madness, the lads kick things off with some classic football nonsense before diving into an incredible life story.

John opens up about the sliding doors moment that changed everything - missing Istanbul, walking away from a secure job, and somehow ending up with a Hollywood film based on his life, directed by Bradley Cooper. We hear how stand-up comedy nearly went wrong in front of the England squad, what it takes to win over a hostile room, and why being relaxed might be the most powerful weapon of all.

There’s Liverpool chat, Anfield directors’ box madness, iconic songs making their way into movies, and a reminder that football - just like life - can turn on one tiny moment. Plus, awkward hotel goodbyes, junket disasters, and proof that ball boys are officially on one.

As always, let us know in the comments - what’s your biggest sliding doors moment?

00:00 - Hotel room chaos and setting the scene

02:10 - Crouchy’s “ultra-professional” car collection story

04:45 - Why golf is boring… until it isn’t

06:05 - Watford vs Millwall and the ball boy disaster

08:00 - AFCON final madness and towel-gate

10:30 - Introducing John Bishop

13:45 - How a film about John Bishop even happened

16:25 - Bradley Cooper gets involved

18:45 - How true the film is to John’s real life

20:05 - John Bishop vs the England dressing room

24:10 - The art of winning a hostile crowd

26:40 - Growing up a Liverpool fan

30:15 - Sitting in the Anfield directors’ box

33:30 - The Liverpool song moment in the film

40:05 - Istanbul, missed finals and sliding doors

46:20 - Could John Bishop do stand-up for England again?

49:10 - Awkward goodbyes and junket chaos

51:40 - Butterfly effects and career-defining moments

This episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK’s No.1 breakdown provider. It’s OK with the AA, they’re the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - Join today at www.theaa.com/Crouch T&Cs apply. Verify claims at theaa.com/best

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