WHO is Captain Cuttle?

That’s the question puzzling Huyton-born stand-up comedian John Bishop.

He needs to know, as that’s the character he’s been assigned to play in pantomime this year.

“I’m not quite certain who he is,” admitted the 40-year-old comic after his appearance was announced yesterday at The Lowry, Salford, where the show opens on December 7.

Bishop is more used to the stand-up circuit – his show at the Edinburgh Festival this year was titled Stick Your Job Up Your A*** – but gained pantomime experience last year job-sharing a role with fellow Liverpool comic Chris Cairns in Snow White at the Royal Court, Liverpool.

“It was a lot of fun and I was sorry I could not do the whole run, but this year I’ll be in it from start to finish.”

He had been head-hunted by Liverpool theatre company Pele Productions which is staging the Lowry panto starring people like Darren Day, singer Chesney Hawkes and former Emmerdale star Frazer Hines.

Bishop, a former winner of the North West Comedian of the Year Award, has been doing comedy for six years but only turned professional a year ago.

He has a young family but admits his stand-up show is not really suitable for them. “So it’s good to do pantomime as they can come and see me work. They came to Liverpool last Christmas and really enjoyed it.”