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JOHN BISHOP has become the latest in a line of high- profile supporters of Liverpool’s Unity Theatre.

The comedian joins a distinguished list of talent to have pledged their support to the organisation, including actors David Morrissey and Andrew Lancel, director Josette Bushell-Mingo and theatre entrepreneur and Everton chair Bill Kenwright.

Graeme Phillips, the Hope Place theatre’s artistic director, said: “We are excited to welcome John Bishop as a Unity patron following a long and successful association with our theatre.

“As a leading comedian and performer, he is a high-profile patron who can help us represent the wide variety of work showing at Unity, raise the profile of Liverpool’s most well-loved venue and we look forward to his return in 2011.”

Since his first appearance at Unity in 2006, Bishop has performed at the theatre a further five times.

Following the success of comedy series John Bishop’s Britain, on BBC One this summer, the Liverpool comic returns to TV this autumn as a panellist in Sky One’s A League of their Own, on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Road Show and Live at The Apollo. He also stars in Ken Loach’s new film, Route Irish.