COMEDIAN John Bishop has opened up about his heartbreak and "pain like no other" after revealing a shock family tragedy.
The TV star, who previously appeared in Doctor Who, was forced to pull out of his new stage show, taking "compassionate leave" this week.
John, 56, revealed his mum Kathy had sadly passed away this week in a heartfelt Instagram post.
The star told how his mum had been singing along during his performances of theatre show Mother Goose just weeks before.
However, he shared the heartbreaking news with his fans that Kathy was being cared for in hospital before she died this morning.
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John wrote an emotional message to his fans under a smiley snap of himself cuddling up to his mum, as well as a video of Kathy singing along at the recent pantomime in Liverpool.
"Two weeks ago my Mum came to see me in Mother Goose in Liverpool and joined in the sing-a-long at the end as I knew she would," John wrote.
"This morning we said goodbye to her and we will never hear her sing again.
"As a family we are heartbroken. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother and she loved us all.
"Next week she would have been married to my Dad for 62 years and they had a love and a friendship that was beautiful to be around.
"We want to thank all of the brilliant staff at Whiston Hospital on ward 3C who could not have done more and provided exceptional care for us all."
John added: "Anyone who has lost a parent will understand when I say it is a pain like no other.
"I will never have another mother but I will be eternally grateful for being lucky enough to have had the one I did. Good night Mum, you were our sunshine."
It comes after John was forced to pull out of his stage show.
He was set to continue his role as Vic Goose in the production of Mother Goose at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin, alongside Sir Ian McKellan.
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However, the comedian was replaced by his understudy Gabriel Fleary so the production could go on without him.
In a statement, the theatre said: “We regret to announce that John Bishop is unable to appear in this week’s run of Mother Goose at Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
"Mr Bishop has taken compassionate leave from the show."