Blue Lights has one of the most likeable cast in a TV show ever, but is comedian John Bishop amongst the famous faces?
Series 3 started on BBC One this week (Monday, September 29, 2025) after more than a year away. And there were some new faces amongst the regular favourites. These included Cathy Tyson, Michael Smiley, and Lorcan Cranitch.
But, while watching the latest episodes, some fans believed John Bishop had joined the cast. Or if not the comedian, then his son. So is John Bishop in Blue Lights? Here’s everything you need to know.
Is John Bishop in Blue Lights?
While watching the brilliant police drama Blue Lights on BBC One, some viewers became convinced that John Bishop was in the cast.
Of course, the stand-up comedian HAS turned actor in the past few years. He’s previously played Dan Lewis in Doctor Who, Steve Livesey in Fearless, and Peter Cartwright in the acclaimed Jimmy McGovern drama The Accused. Whereas Skins fans will know him as Rob Fitch.
Just this year, John played Rose Ayling-Ellis’ dad in Code of Silence.
But is John Bishop in Blue Lights? Nope, despite lots of opinion to the contrary, he’s NOT in the BBC One police drama. But we don’t blame viewers for being confused. Actor Charlie Maher does look a lot like John Bishop.
Viewers convinced Charlie Maher is John Bishop – or related to him!
BBC One viewers jumped online to shared their thoughts on the lookalike in Blue Lights.
One wrote: “Bez meets John Bishop as the main villain #bluelights.”
Another said: “John Bishop’s son is in #BlueLights.”
A third simply asked: “Is John Bishop in Blue Lights?”
Dozens more turned to Google to search for John Bishop’s name in the Blue Lights cast.
Is Charlie Maher actor, who plays Donal Fogerty in Blue Lights, related to John Bishop?
Actor Charlie Maher stars as Donal Fogerty in Blue Lights series 3. Fans of the police crime drama will know that Charlie first played the criminal in series 1, before returning in series 2. However, he takes a more central role in the latest episodes.
And don’t be fooled by his uncanny resemblance to likeable comedian John Bishop… Fogerty is a nasty piece of work, who runs the murky criminal gang.
And, no, Charlie Maher is not related to John Bishop in any way. While John Bishop is from Liverpool, actor Charlie is Irish. And John Bishop does have three sons – Joe, Daniel, and Luke Bishop – but none of them are actors.
Meanwhile, Charlie was named one of 50 talent to watch in 2024 by The Irish Times. His role in Blue Lights is arguably his biggest role to date, and he’ll soon appear in the crime drama Borderline.
Other notable roles include Dr O’Dowd in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Conversation with Friends, and William Garnet in Queens of Mystery. He also played Con in Black Narcissus, and Charles Lindbergh in The Titans That Built America. He’s been in multiple films, too, including All You Need Is Death, Ten Dates, Who We Love, As Luck Would Have It, and Animals.
