Doctor Who star John Bishop reacts to explicit fan art featuring his character, Dan Lewis, in a recent episode of his talk show, The John Bishop Show. Bishop stars alongside Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor and Mandip Gill's Yaz Khan as the latest companion to join the TARDIS team. The actor joined the show in season 13 of the revived series, titled Doctor Who: Flux.
A plasterer, wannabe museum guide, and food bank employee with a good heart, Dan is swept up in the Doctor's adventures when he is abducted by Lupari warrior and former companion of the Doctor, Karvanista (Craig Els), from his Liverpool home. The dog-like alien warrior reveals he had been designated to protect Dan from the oncoming Flux cataclysm that threatens to destroy the entire universe, with the pair ultimately developing mutual respect for one another following their adventures during Doctor Who: Flux. Bishop's casting was announced in January 2021, with the sci-fi role being a far cry from his previous, more dramatic, down-to-Earth acting roles due to the scale of the franchise. Indeed, Doctor Who provided plenty of new experiences for the actor among the hit series' unique and vast fandom.
Shared by Twitter user Rob Ritchie, who joked about the fan art's canonicity, a new clip shows a segment cut from the end of The John Bishop Show. The segment features actor James Nesbitt and comedian Sarah Millican as guests. In the clip, Bishop shares four pieces of fan art by Twitter user @CuriosityRocks of Dan and Karvanista. They begin with the pair sharing a drink, and ultimately end with a more explicit image of the pair embracing. Bishop joked he wouldn't use the final piece as his Christmas card, with the segment being part of a wider discussion on fan culture throughout the episode. Check out the full clip below.
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Having reacted to memes throughout Doctor Who season 13's run, Bishop has quickly become well-aware of the capabilities of the Doctor Who fandom. A previous meme sees Dan reframed as a wok-wielding, soup-stealing menace to the universe, from single-handedly wiping out Sontaran fleets, to antagonizing Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor during his final adventure. A featurette following Bishop through the production of Doctor Who: Flux also revealed that Bishop had been told about fan art, though the pairing he reacted to may not have been one that he expected.
Though it is definitely a strange situation, it is a relief to see Bishop take the fan art and respond in a light-hearted, humorous way. There have been occasions with stars such as James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender where certain pieces of fan art have been shared on talk shows to poke fun at larger fandom, whereas Bishop avoids making such jokes. Thought he joined late in Whittaker's tenure on Doctor Who, Bishop's character has become a fan-favorite, and the star's attitude towards fandom culture has endeared him to most fans, with his support of memes, creations, and in-jokes. In times where the relationship between creator and fandom can get contentious and quickly toxic, it is welcome to see a healthy, enjoyable relationship bloom, even over the strangest, most unexpected works.
Source: @Robritchie409