Did you catch the casting news? Comedian and actor John Bishop has joined Doctor Who as Dan, who'll be traveling through space and time with the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) in the show's upcoming season. "It’s time for the next chapter of Doctor Who, and it starts with a man called Dan," showrunner Chris Chibnall teases. "Oh, we’ve had to keep this one secret for a long, long time."

To whet your appetite, here's a guide to Bishop's varied career, which has made him one of the most familiar faces on British TV.

1. He hails from Liverpool, hometown of The Beatles and Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, and supports Liverpool F.C.

You can watch him waxing lyrical about his passion for soccer in this comedy clip.

2. He worked as a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company before quitting to pursue a career in comedy.

This was definitely a big risk: Bishop was in his late thirties at the time and told The Guardian that he gave up a "good job, mortgage, pension plan, Bupa [healthcare], company car, and gold cards for two airlines" to chase his dream.

3. The risk paid off, because he's now one of the U.K.'s most popular comedians.

Bishop played 150 dates all over the U.K. and Ireland on his "Winging It!" tour in 2017. He's due to begin his next comedy tour, "Right Here Right Now," in August of this year.

4. He's hosted his own talk show, John Bishop: In Conversation With..., on U.K. network W.

Guests across the four seasons to date have included James Corden, Miriam Margolyes, Dame Joan Collins, Top Gear's Paddy McGuinness, Sir Lenny Henry, and John Cleese.

5. He had a recurring role in seasons three and four of iconic British teen drama Skins.

Bishop plays the father of twins Emily and Katie (Kathryn and Megan Prescott), appearing in the same Skins era as then-rising stars Jack O'Connell and Kaya Scodelario.

6. He also had a key supporting role in Route Irish, a 2011 indie film by revered British director Ken Loach.

In a film with Loach's trademark social conscience, Bishop plays Frankie, a private military contractor killed senselessly during the fallout from the Iraq War.

7. He's well known for his charity work.

In 2012, he completed his so-called "week of hell" for Sport Relief by cycling, running, and rowing from Paris to London – a journey of 290 miles. His incredible efforts raised a massive £4.2 million ($5.7 million) for the organization.

8. He's been a vegetarian since 1985.

According to the Radio Times, he decided to give up meat after seeing a cow being slaughtered on a farm. In 2013, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) named him the UK's sexiest male vegetarian.

9. He's very much an animal lover.

Last year, he hosted the documentary series John Bishop's Great Whale Rescue for U.K. network ITV.

10. He's also a staunch LGBTQ ally.

Bishop was widely praised for saying he is "massively proud" of son Luke, who is gay, when he delivered a moving speech at the British LGBT Awards in 2018.

During an appearance on ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show later that year, he offered some spot-on advice to fellow parents of LGBTQ children. "Say 'it’s OK.' Just love them for who they are and allow them to feel safe," he said, "and then those little digs and the little knocks and the little abuse that they subtly get that we don’t know about, perhaps won’t penetrate as deep."

Are you looking forward to watching John Bishop in Doctor Who?