Johnny Vegas
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Michael Joseph Pennington (born 5 September 1970), known by the stage name Johnny Vegas, is an English actor, comedian, director, writer, and entrepreneur of ceramics and retro items. He is known for his thick Lancashire accent, husky voice, angry comedic rants and use of surreal humour.
Vegas' television roles have included Moz in the BBC Three dark comedy Ideal (2005–2011), Geoff Maltby ("The Oracle") in the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2009, 2015–2017) and Eric Agnew in the BBC One sitcom Still Open All Hours (2013–2019). He has also been a regular guest panellist on the television comedy panel shows QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Early life
Vegas was born Michael Joseph Pennington on 5 September 1970, in the Thatto Heath area of St Helens, Merseyside.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He has an older sister and two older brothers; they were all brought up as Roman Catholic. At the age of 11, he attended the boarding school and seminary St Joseph's College in Up Holland to train for the priesthood, but came back homesick after four terms.<ref name="Guardian interview">Template:Cite news</ref>
Vegas earned a BA in Art and Ceramics from Middlesex University in London.<ref name="Guardian interview"/> He then returned to his home town and took various odd jobs; he worked in an Argos warehouse, sold boiler insurance door-to-door, packed bottles of Cif in a factory, and was a barman at a local pub.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Between 1994 and 1997, he was a member of Cluub Zarathustra, a comedy performance group led by Stewart Lee, Roger Mann, and Simon Munnery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
Television and radio
In 1996, Vegas made his television debut as a contestant on Win, Lose or Draw in the UK under his real name; however, he also made references to the fact he wanted to be a comedian and that his stage name was "Johnny Vegas".<ref name="MEN">ITV James Martin's Saturday Morning: Johnny Vegas' real name, two wives, and 'hard battle' Manchester Evening News, 28 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022</ref> He featured on The Big Breakfast during the programme's final months before it ended in March 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His appearance was briefly shown during Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and BBC Three's Almost Famous 2. Vegas gained a wider audience as a regular member of Shooting Stars. His character was a pitiable sort always nursing a pint of Guinness. In 2001 he appeared on the Weakest Link, in a comedians special and beat Barry Cryer to win the jackpot of £10,200.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2002, Vegas starred in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Night Class, which he co-wrote with Tony Burgess and Tony Pitts, with Dirk Maggs as director. Vegas played a former Butlin's redcoat teaching evening classes in pottery.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was a runner-up for best comedy at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He starred in the BBC Three sitcom Ideal as Moz from 2005 to 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2005 he played Krook in the BBC adaptation of Dickens' Bleak House.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Between 2007 and 2009, Vegas played Geoff Maltby, aka "The Oracle", in the ITV sitcom Benidorm and from 2015 to 2017.<ref name="MEN"/>
In 2012, Vegas played the role of Mr. Croombe in the television film adaptation of David Walliams's children's book Mr Stink.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2014, Vegas voiced Fat Baz in the ITV4 animated sitcom Warren United.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In August 2014, Vegas took part in ITV's two-part documentary series Secrets from the Clink.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2013, Vegas played the role of Lord Ratspeaker in a BBC radio adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, adapted by Dirk Maggs.
Since 26 December 2013, Vegas has played Wet Eric Agnew in the revived BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vegas has guest presented numerous episodes of Sunday Brunch for Channel 4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In August 2015, he narrated the four-part series Travel Guides for ITV. In 2016, he took part in ITV's celebrity driving show Drive, hosted by Vernon Kay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In August 2016, Vegas starred in a one-off comedy pilot called Home From Home, playing the lead role of Neil Hackett. Filmed at Skiddaw View Holiday Park,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the episode aired on BBC Two on 30 August 2016. In December 2016 it was announced that Home From Home had been commissioned for a full series to air on BBC One in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Beginning in September 2019, Vegas has starred as the voice of the title character in the surreal children's animated series The Rubbish World of Dave Spud.
He is a regular panellist on the quiz show QI, having starred in 12 episodes as of 2019.
He has appeared as a guest panellist and team captain on Channel 4's 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, appearing in 11 episodes. Channel 4 featured his September 2017 poem about a drunk patron on its YouTube channel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023 it was announced that Vegas would be the director for a new audio series of The Wombles for BBC Radio 4, with Richard E. Grant as voice actor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Film
In 2003, Vegas played Jackie Symes in the film The Virgin of Liverpool, Alf Prince in the film Cheeky and Trevor in the film Blackball. In 2004, he played Dave in the film Sex Lives of the Potato Men and voiced Uncle Stewart in the film Terkel in Trouble.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2013, Vegas was the voice of Abu the hamster in the British film The Harry Hill Movie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vegas provided the voice for Asbo in the 2018 Aardman Animations film Early Man.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other projects
Vegas appeared in Joe Orton's The Erpingham Camp at the 2000 Edinburgh Festival. In 2001, Vegas starred as Al in adverts for ITV Digital with a puppet named Monkey (voiced by Ben Miller). In 2007, he reprised the role in adverts for PG Tips tea.
Having achieved fame in entertainment, Vegas received plaudits for his ceramic work. Ceramic Review praised him, leading to a role in Pot Shots (collaborating with Roger Law), a film made for an international gathering of potters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This led to his work being acquired for a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum and a commission from Old Spice to design a bottle for their aftershave.<ref name="RHLSTP">Template:Cite AV media</ref>
In 2014, he directed a music video for Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott.<ref name="Heaton">Template:Cite web</ref> That year he also published his autobiography.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In May 2017, it was announced Vegas would be starring in new comedy feature Eaten by Lions opposite Antonio Aakeel and Jack Carroll, directed by Jason Wingard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
In August 2002, Vegas married Catherine "Kitty" Donnelly. In a satire of celebrities selling exclusive pictures of their weddings to publications for high prices, he sold pictures of the ceremony to the adult comic Viz for £1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They separated in late 2006 and divorced in 2008. They had one child together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2011, he married Irish television presenter Maïa Dunphy in Seville.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In January 2015, they announced that they were expecting their first child together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They separated in late 2017,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> reconciled in November 2018,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and separated again some time before April 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vegas continues to live in his home town of St Helens, and has been outspoken about the pride he takes in it; he is well known for being active in supporting the local community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He fulfilled a lifetime ambition by appearing for St Helens RFC in Keiron Cunningham's testimonial rugby league game, a friendly against Hull FC, in 2005.<ref name="Johnny Vegas turns out for Saints">Template:Cite news</ref>
In December 2012, Vegas said that he had recently returned to the Roman Catholic faith in which his parents brought him up and credited the faith for his good upbringing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2014, Vegas was made an Honorary Doctor of Literature (HonDLitt) by Edge Hill University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vegas is a supporter of the Labour Party and has spoken about his appreciation for the NHS.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Virgin of Liverpool | Jackie Symes | |
| Johnny Vegas: Who's Ready for Ice Cream? | Himself | ||
| Cheeky | Alf Price | ||
| Blackball | Trevor | ||
| 2004 | Sex Lives of the Potato Men | Dave | |
| Reuben Don't Take Your Love to Town | Café owner | Short | |
| Terkel in Trouble | Uncle Stewart (voice) | English version | |
| The Libertine | Sackville | ||
| 2005 | Blake's Junction 7 | Blake | Short |
| 2010 | The Green | Dad | |
| 2013 | Blood and Nuts | Gordon Bennett | |
| The Harry Hill Movie | Abu (voice) | ||
| 2015 | Dark_Net | Alan | Short |
| 2016 | Grimsby | Milky Pimms | U.S. title: The Brothers Grimsby |
| Womble Movie | Giro | ||
| 2017 | Tulip Fever | Apothecary | |
| 2018 | Early Man | Asbo (voice) | |
| Eaten by Lions | Ray | ||
| 2019 | Tales from the Lodge | Russell | |
| 2021 | Paul Dood's Deadly Lunchbreak | Rexsan | |
| The Drowning of Arthur Braxton | Arthur Braxton Sr.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| 2024 | Time Travel is Dangerous | Robert | |
| 2025 | The Twits | Mr. Twit (voice) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Win, Lose or Draw | Himself | Contestant (1 episode) | ITV |
| 2001 | Attention Scum! | 24-hour news man | 6 episodes | BBC Two |
| The Weakest Link | Himself | Comedians special | ||
| 2000–2013 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Guest / Team captain / Host (5 episodes) | ||
| 2001–2003 | Happiness | Charlie Doyle | 12 episodes | |
| 2002 | Shooting Stars | Himself | Regular panellist (19 episodes) | BBC Choice |
| Room 101 | Himself | Guest (1 episode) | BBC2 | |
| Black Books | Fran's landlord | Episode: "Fever" | Channel 4 | |
| Staying Up | Frank O'Hanlon | TV film | BBC Choice | |
| Tipping the Velvet | Gully Sutherland | TV mini-series (1 episode) | BBC Two | |
| 2003 | Ed Stone Is Dead | Waiter | Episode: "All You Can Eat" | BBC Choice |
| Top Gear | Himself | Guest (series 3, episode 8) | BBC Two | |
| 2005 | Dead Man Weds | Lewis Donat | 6 episodes | ITV |
| 18 Stone of Idiot | Himself | Host (6 episodes) | Channel 4 | |
| Bleak House | Krook | TV mini-series (6 episodes) | BBC One | |
| ShakespeaRe-Told | Nick Bottom | TV mini-series (episode: "A Midsummer Night's Dream") | ||
| 2005–2011 | Ideal | Moz / Roger | Regular role (54 episodes) | BBC Three |
| 2005–2019 | 8 Out of 10 Cats | Himself | Regular panellist (13 episodes) | Channel 4 |
| 2007–2009, 2015–2017 | Benidorm | Geoff Maltby aka "The Oracle" | Regular role (34 episodes) | ITV |
| 2007–2019 | QI | Himself | Regular panellist (12 episodes) | BBC Four / BBC Two / BBC One |
| 2008 | Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong | Contestant / Team leader (1 episode) | Channel 4 | |
| Massive | Tony | 6 episodes | BBC Three | |
| 2009–2018 | The Graham Norton Show | Himself | Guest (3 episodes) | BBC One |
| 2010 | Checkov Comedy Shorts | Tolkachov | Episode: "A Reluctant Tragic Hero" | Sky Arts 2 |
| Dave's One Night Stand | Himself | Headline act (1 episode) | Dave | |
| 2011 | Show Me the Funny | Guest judge | ITV | |
| The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff | The Artful Codger | Episode: "Christmas Special" | BBC Two | |
| Little Crackers | Kevin | Episode: "Johnny Vegas's Little Cracker: I Was a Teenage Santa!" | Sky One | |
| 2011–2020 | Celebrity Juice | Himself | Regular panellist (30 episodes) | ITV2 |
| 2012 | The Matt Lucas Awards | Guest (1 episode) | BBC One | |
| Rude Tube | Computer | 2 episodes: "Utter Fails" & "Animal Anarchy" | Channel 4 / E4 | |
| The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas | Brian (voice) | TV film | CBeebies | |
| Mr Stink | Dad (Mr. Croombe) | BBC One | ||
| 2012–2014 | A League of Their Own | Himself | Guest panellist (2 episodes) | Sky One |
| 2012–2015 | Moone Boy | Crunchie Haystacks | 6 episodes | |
| 2013 | Common Ground | Rupert | Episode: "Rupert" | Sky Atlantic |
| It's Kevin | Billy Pike | 1 episode | BBC Two | |
| Moving On | Drive-through burger server / Taxi controller (voices) | Uncredited (2 episodes: "That's Amore" & "Back by Six") | BBC One | |
| The Jonathan Ross Show | Himself | Guest (1 episode) | ITV | |
| 2013–2014 | Have I Got News for You | Guest (2 episodes) | BBC One | |
| 2013–2018 | Sunday Brunch | Guest / Presenter (7 episodes) | Channel 4 | |
| 2013–2019 | Still Open All Hours | Wet Eric Agnew | Regular role (40 episodes) | BBC One |
| 2014 | Warren United | Fat Baz (voice) | 6 episodes | ITV4 |
| All Star Mr & Mrs | Himself | Contestant (with wife Maia Dunphy; 1 episode) | ITV | |
| Secrets from the Clink | Participant | |||
| Crackanory | Host / Presenter (1 episode: "Self Storage & the Obituary Writer") | Dave | ||
| Psychobitches | Salome | TV mini-series (1 episode) | Sky Arts | |
| 2014–2015 | Celebrity Fifteen to One | Himself | Guest (2 episodes) | Channel 4 |
| 2014–2016 | Duck Quacks Don't Echo | Panellist (3 episodes) | Sky One | |
| 2015 | Travel Guides | Narrator (4 episodes) | ITV | |
| House of Fools | Bradford butcher | Episode: "The Botox Affair" | BBC Two | |
| Brilliantman! | Mrs. Wardale | TV short | Sky Arts | |
| The Jonathan Ross Show | Himself | Guest (1 episode) | ITV | |
| 2015–2016 | Drunk History | Vicar Andrew / Baby Jesus | 2 episodes | Comedy Central |
| Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled | Himself | Guest (2 episodes) | Dave | |
| 2015–2019 | Through the Keyhole | Celebrity panellist (3 episodes) | ITV | |
| 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown | Contestant / Team captain (12 episodes) | Channel 4 | ||
| The Last Leg | Guest (12 episodes) | |||
| 2016 | The Comedy Strip Presents... Red Top | Johnny | TV film | Gold |
| Neil Gaiman's Likely Stories | Daniel | TV mini-series (episode: "Closing Time") | Sky Arts | |
| Lip Sync Battle UK | Himself | Contestant (episode: "Jonny Vegas vs. Vic Reeves") | Channel 5 | |
| Drive<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Contestant; finished in fourth place | ITV | ||
| Travel Man | Guest (episode: "48 Hours in Dubai") | Channel 4 | ||
| Celebrity Storage Hunters | Main buyer (episode: "Banbury") | Dave | ||
| Tipping Point: Lucky Stars | Contestant (1 episode) | ITV | ||
| Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas | Guest | Channel 4 | ||
| 2016–2017 | The Funny Thing About... | Presenter (6 episodes) | Channel 5 | |
| 2016–2018 | Home from Home | Neil Hackett | Regular role (7 episodes) | BBC Two (pilot) / BBC One (series) |
| 2017 | The 2,000,000 Calorie Buffet | Himself | Narrator, TV film documentary | Channel 4 |
| The Great Pottery Throw Down | 1 episode | BBC Two | ||
| Red Dwarf | Crit Cop | Episode: "Timewave" | Dave | |
| Murder on the Blackpool Express | Terry | TV film | Gold | |
| 2018 | Death on the Tyne | |||
| The Queen and I | Spiggy | Sky One | ||
| 2019 | Celebrity Catchphrase | Himself | Contestant (1 episode) | ITV |
| The Big Narstie Show | Season 2 Episode 4 | Channel 4 | ||
| All Round to Mrs. Brown's | Guest (1 episode) | BBC One | ||
| Good Omens | Ron Ormorod | TV mini-series (episode: "The Doomsday Option") | Amazon Prime Video | |
| Dial M for Middlesbrough | Terry | TV film | Gold | |
| The Rubbish World of Dave Spud<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Dave Spud | Voice role (78 episodes +1 movie) | CITV | |
| 2020–2022 | Meet the Richardsons | Himself | Regular role | Dave |
| Celebrity Gogglebox | Channel 4 | |||
| Taskmaster | Series 10; 10 episodes; Contestant | |||
| 2021 | James Martin's Saturday Morning | Himself / Guest | 1 episode<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ITV |
| Sunday Brunch | Himself / Guest | 1 episode; 9 May 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Channel 4 | |
| Martin & Roman's Weekend Best! | Himself / Guest | 1 episode; 16 May 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ITV | |
| Cooking with the Stars | Himself / Contestant | Series 1; Semi-finalist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ITV | |
| Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up | Himself / Contestant | 1 episode; 18 September 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ITV | |
| Mandy | The Ghost of Christmas Past | Christmas special "We Wish You A Mandy Christmas"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | BBC | |
| The Greatest Snowman | Himself | Contestant<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Channel 4 | |
| 2021–2022 | Murder, They Hope | Terry Bremmer | TV mini-series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Gold |
| 2021, 2024 | Johnny Vegas: Carry on Glamping | Host / Presenter | TV mini-series | Channel 4 |
| 2022 | Pointless Celebrities | Himself | Contestant<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | BBC One |
| Big Zuu's Big Eats | Himself / Guest | 1 episode; 4 July 2022<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Dave | |
| 2023 | Romantic Getaway | Alfie | 6-part series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Sky Max |
| DNA Journey | Himself | With Alex Brooker<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ITV | |
| Blood Actually: A 'Murder, They Hope' Mystery | Terry Bremmer | Christmas comedy special<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Gold | |
| 2024 | Apocalypse Slough: A Murder, They Hope Mystery | Comedy special<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Gold | |
| Generation Z | Jason | 3 episodes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Channel 4 | |
| World's Most Dangerous Roads | Himself | One episode alongside Lucy Beaumont<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | U&Dave | |
| 2025 | Johnny Vegas's Little Shop of Antiques | Himself | Eight-part antiques show<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Quest |
| Johnny Vegas: Art, ADHD and Me | Himself | Two-part documentary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Channel 4 |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists | Easton<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2010 | Chequebook & Pen | Les Dawson |
| 2012 | Diary of a Nobody | Charles Pooter |
| 2013 | Neverwhere | Lord Ratspeaker |
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- Template:IMDb name
- Sitting pretty by Miranda Sawyer – The Guardian, 15 May 2005.
- Template:YouTube
- 1970 births
- Living people
- 20th-century English comedians
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English comedians
- 21st-century English male actors
- Alter egos
- Alumni of Middlesex University
- Comedians from Lancashire
- English male comedians
- Male actors from Lancashire
- English male film actors
- English male radio actors
- English male stage actors
- English male television actors
- English male voice actors
- English Roman Catholics
- Labour Party (UK) people
- St Helens R.F.C. players
- English stand-up comedians
- Actors from St Helens, Merseyside