John Bishop has given fans a glimpse at his wedding anniversary weekend away with his wife Melanie after celebrating 30 years of marriage.
The comedian, 56, took to Instagram on Monday to share some pictures of his trip with his partner and a group of their pals as the couple marked their pearl anniversary.
Television personality John could be seen beaming as he posed arm-in-arm with Melanie, who wore her original wedding dress for the occasion.
The cream floor-length gown was cinched in at the waist and featured puff sleeves with floral detail on the shoulders.
John wrote: ’30 years ago today @melbish1 walked down the aisle in that dress. She took my breath away then and still does today.
Love story: John Bishop, 56, has given fans a glimpse at his wedding anniversary weekend away with his wife Melanie after celebrating 30 years of marriage
Celebrations: The comedian took to Instagram on Monday to share some pictures of his trip with his partner and a group of their pals as the couple marked their pearl anniversary
Heartfelt: John shared some warm words about his wife Melanie and their friends, who were part of their original wedding party in 1993
‘Last weekend we spent time with our bridesmaids (Jane and Jane) ushers (John, Paul, Sergie and Jimmy) and best man (our Eddie) who are still the most important people in our lives and whose support has helped reach this far.
‘It is amazing how quickly three decades pass. In that time there has been a million laughs and a million tears.
‘Life doesn’t always comply with the perfect world that social media presents – no matter who you are there are days when it’s hard to see a way through.
‘There are some things I wish I had done better and there are others that blow my mind because they went so well.
‘After 30 years of marriage the one lesson I have learnt is that I am a stronger better man because she is the person who holds my hand and guides me through when all I can see is darkness .
‘She still fits in the dress and my heart still fits in her pocket.’
Stand-up comedian John shared a variety of pictures from their weekend, including the photo of him and Melanie in her wedding dress.
He could be seen wearing a blue jumper and a shirt in a lighter shade of the same colour underneath, which he teamed with a pair of denim jeans.
Refreshments: The group enjoyed drinks together at what appeared to be a private cabin, with John captioning one picture: ‘A weekend celebrating decades of friendship and love’
Happy couple: Television personality John could be seen beaming as he posed arm-in-arm with Melanie, who wore her original wedding dress for the occasion
Living it up: The group could be seen enjoying drinks from a van which sat by the side of the road in the countryside
The couple posed together as they stood on a deck in the sunshine in front of a beautiful pond.
The group enjoyed drinks together at what appeared to be a private cabin, with John captioning one picture: ‘A weekend celebrating decades of friendship and love,’ along with a red heart emoji.
Meanwhile, they enjoyed a number of other activities during their stay in the countryside.
John shared one picture of Melanie as she stood with an air rifle, while in another she could be seen perched on a bicycle as they took part in some sports.
The couple met at college in Manchester and married in 1993. They share sons Joe, 28, Luke, 26, and Daniel, 24, together.
John previously told with heart-warming honesty how stand-up and relationship counselling saved his marriage.
In the early days of his marriage he says he was a blunt, unemotional Northerner who was unable to express his feelings to his wife Melanie.
But when the couple separated he took up stand-up comedy and started talking about the split during his stage routine.
Keeping active: Meanwhile, they enjoyed a number of other activities during their stay in the countryside, with Melanie posing with an air rifle
Ready to roll: In another snap she could be seen perched on a bicycle as they took part in some sports
It was only when Melanie chanced upon him performing that she fell in love with him again.
They went on to get their relationship back on track with the help of some Relate counselling.
‘Both stand-up and going to Relate changed me,’ John told The Mail on Sunday in 2013.
‘I stopped being scared of talking about what I felt. The consequences of not doing that are bigger than the consequences of doing it.
‘When I was younger, I wasn’t very emotional. But there’s a point in your life where there’s nothing to be scared of any more. I just didn’t realise it at the time.’
He assumed the traditional male role, providing for Melanie and their sons through a well-paid job in pharmaceutical sales.
However, the long hours took their toll on the marriage, and the couple separated in 2000.
In the same year, John made his stand-up debut, having chanced upon an open-mic night at The Frog And Bucket comedy club in Manchester.
Family: The couple met at college in Manchester and married in 1993. They share sons Joe, 28, Luke, 26, and Daniel, 24, together (pictured with John’s late mother Kathy, second right)
Enticed by the offer of a free drink, Bishop got up and started talking about his life.
He found it therapeutic and was rewarded with laughter, so he did it again – and again. A comedy star was born, although it was a while before John gave up his day job.
Some 18 months after that life-changing performance, Melanie came into the club with friends and was shocked to find her estranged husband on stage talking about their break-up.
She says this was the moment she began to fall back in love with him.
Having discovered that they had both booked time off work for the same dates, the couple decided to go away together with the boys.
However, their reconciliation was still far from a done deal.
‘Even after the holiday, things could have gone either way,’ he said. ‘It was (relationship support service) Relate that helped us.
‘We were able to discuss what went wrong. It’s a British disease of building up barriers. I think that’s breaking down now and people are more open to the idea of counselling and talking things through.
‘That’s a really good thing. You’ll probably have half a dozen sessions and the penny will drop. And that can change the rest of your life.
‘All of a sudden you realise things have been said but you couldn’t hear them.’
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