John Bishop lined up for second LGBT award after impassioned speech about gay son

Comedian John Bishop has been tipped to pick up more LGBT acclaim, after delivering an impassioned speech when he received Ally of the Year at the British LGBT Awards.

Accepting the award last week, John, 51, was praised for his heartfelt speech about his gay son and the idea of accepting the LGBT community as the norm.

After telling an anecdote of his visit to a once anti-gay Northern Ireland, he spoke of how the numbers of their gay pride march rose from 50 to 50,000 over time, before talking about his three sons – one of whom is gay.

Attending the awards event with wife Melanie and his sons Joe, Luke, and Daniel, the star said he was shocked to be receiving the prize.

‘I was so pleased to be nominated,’ he began.

‘I brought my whole family, my wife and my three sons who I love and I am massively proud of.

‘Like all parents we have problems with them.

‘One of my sons has got a tattoo on his ankle that was meant to be Africa but looks like Australia, one of my sons mumbles, and one of my sons is a gay man.

‘I’ll be honest, there’s been loads of nights me and my wife have sat up and worried and worried and worried…

‘That if he doesn’t stop mumbling, what are we going to do?’

Now, the Liverpudlian looks set to pick up another award – this time for a gong voted by the readers of DIVA Magazine, who have shortlisted the comedian.

Its readership, made up of gay and bisexual women, have nominated him, with its editor Linda Riley, saying: ‘All of those nominated for DIVA awards are very deserving.

‘Our readers are impressed that he has used his social media platform to challenge homophobia and back LGBT+ rights. His call for marriage equality in Northern Irleand is very important because it has put the issue back on the agenda.’

Ex-Loose Women presenter Denise Welch as well as broadcasters Sue Perkins and Mary Portas are also shortlisted, with names like model and actor Cara Delevingne and pop queen Dua Lipa expected to walk its red carpet.

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