Johnny Vegas
| Johnny Vegas | |||
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Johnny Vegas backstage at the filming of an episode of QI in 2007 | |||
| Birth name | Michael Joseph Pennington | ||
| Born |
5 September 1970 St Helens, Lancashire, England | ||
| Medium | Stand up, Television, Film | ||
| Years active | Since 1997 | ||
| Spouse |
Catherine Donnelly (m. 2002–2008; divorced) Maia Dunphy (m. 2011) | ||
| Children | 1 | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
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Michael Joseph Pennington, Sr., better known as Johnny Vegas (born 5 September 1970)[1] is an English actor and comedian, known for his angry rants, surreal humour, portly figure and high husky voice.[2][3]
His television roles have included playing drug dealer Moz in the BBC dark-comedy Ideal. Vegas also regularly appears in comedy panel shows such as QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Early life
Vegas was born in Thatto Heath, St Helens, Lancashire, the youngest of four children of Laurence and Patricia Pennington. He has two older brothers (Robert and Mark) and an older sister (Catharine). He was brought up as a Roman Catholic. At the age of eleven, he attended St Joseph's College in Upholland, a Roman Catholic boarding-school seminary, to train for the priesthood, but came back homesick after four terms.[4] He also attended West Park School, Alder Hey Road, St Helens.
After studying art and ceramics at Middlesex University for three years and gaining a third class degree,[4] Vegas returned to Thatto Heath and took various short-term jobs including working in an Argos warehouse, selling boiler insurance door-to-door and packing bottles of Jif in a factory, before eventually becoming a barman at the Brown Edge pub in Thatto Heath.[5]
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 of Michael, but made references to the fact he wanted to be a comedian and that his stage name was "Johnny Vegas". His appearance was briefly shown during Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and BBC Three's Almost Famous 2.
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.[6][7][8] It was a runner-up for best comedy at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.[9]
He starred in the BBC Three sitcom Ideal as Moz from 2005 to 2011.[10][11]
Between 2007 and 2009, Vegas played Geoff "The Oracle" Maltby in the ITV sitcom Benidorm. On 16 January 2015, he made guest appearances during the programme's seventh series.
In 2012, Vegas played the role of Mr. Croombe in a television adaptation of David Walliams' children's novel Mr Stink.[12]
In 2014, Vegas voiced Fat Baz in the ITV4 animated sitcom Warren United.[13]
On 6 August 2014, Vegas took part in ITV's two-part documentary series Secrets from the Clink.[14][15]
Since 26 December 2013, Vegas has played Wet Eric Agnew in the revived BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours.[16]
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.
In 2013, Vegas was the voice of Abu the hamster in the British film The Harry Hill Movie.[17]
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 tea brand PG Tips.
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.[18][19] 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.
In 2005, Vegas participated in a celebrity edition of The Generation Game demonstrating how to make a pot, before judging the participants' attempts.
In 2014, he directed a music video for Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott.[3]
Personal life
In August 2002, Vegas married Catherine "Kitty" Donnelly and sold pictures of the wedding to Viz magazine for a pound.[20] The couple separated in 2004. They reunited briefly (twice) in 2005. Vegas and Donnelly were divorced by agreement on 11 March 2008 after having lived apart for more than two years. In early April 2011, Vegas married columnist and Irish television producer, Maia Dunphy in Seville.[21] In January 2015, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together.[22]
On 9 May 2008, Vegas admitted on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross that he has been losing weight after being diagnosed with gout. On 30 October 2008, on an episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats, he mentioned that he had lost 4 stone (25 kg).
Vegas fulfilled a lifetime ambition by appearing for St Helens in Keiron Cunningham's testimonial rugby league game, a friendly against Hull, in 2005.[2]
Vegas is a Christian and a vegetarian, having recently returned to religion after having lapsed during adolescence.[23]
In July 2014, Vegas was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Edge Hill University.[24]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Virgin of Liverpool | Jackie Symes |
| Cheeky | Alf Prince | |
| Blackball | Trevor | |
| 2004 | Sex Lives of the Potato Men | Dave |
| Terkel in Trouble | Uncle Stewart (voice only) | |
| The Libertine | Sackville | |
| 2013 | The Harry Hill Movie | Abu (voice only) |
| 2016 | Grimsby | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001-03 | Happiness | Charlie Doyle (12 episodes) |
| 2002 | Shooting Stars | Regular panellist |
| 2005 | Dead Man Weds | |
| Bleak House | Krook | |
| 18 Stone of Idiot | Host | |
| 2005-11 | Ideal | Moz (53 episodes) |
| 2005-12 | 8 Out of 10 Cats | Regular panellist |
| 2007— | QI | Regular panellist |
| 2007-09, 2015— | Benidorm | Geoff "The Oracle" Maltby |
| 2012 | Mr Stink | Mr. Croombe |
| 2013— | Still Open All Hours | Wet Eric Agnew |
| 2014 | Warren United | Fat Baz |
| Secrets from the Clink | Himself | |
TV Guest appearances
- Win, Lose or Draw (1996) - Contestant (1st TV appearance)
- Attention Scum (2001) - Newsreader
- Tipping the Velvet (2002) - Gully Sutherland
- Bleak House (2005, 6 episodes) - Krook
- Dead Man Weds (2005, 6 episodes) - Lewis Donat
- ShakespeaRE-Told (2005, episode based on A Midsummer Night's Dream) - Bottom
- Massive (2008, 6 episodes) - Tony
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff (2011) - The Artful Codger
- Rude Tube (2012, 2 episodes) - Computer
- Moone Boy (2012, 6 episodes) - Crunchie Haystacks
- Black Books (2002) - Landlord
- Ed Stone Is Dead (2003) - Waiter
- Top Gear (2003) - "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car"
- Dave's One Night Stand (2010) - Host
- Celebrity Juice (17 March 2011, 13 September 2012, 16 May 2013, 26 September 2013) - Panellist
- Show Me the Funny[25] (2011) - Guest judge
- A League of Their Own (9 November 2012) - Panellist
- Have I Got News For You (17 May 2013, 25 April 2014) - Panellist
- The Jonathan Ross Show[26] (9 November 2013, 31 January 2015) - Guest
- Never Mind the Buzzcocks (16 December 2013) - Guest Host
- Celebrity Fifteen to One[27][28] (6 June 2014, 23 December 2014) - Contestant
- All Star Mr & Mrs (18 June 2014) - Contestant, with wife Maia[29]
- House of Fools (TV series) as The Butcher. [30]
Radio
- Night Class (2002)
- Lucky Lonny (2006) - by Mike Stott
- Chequebook & Pen (2010) - Les Dawson
- Diary of a Nobody (2012) - Mr. Charles Pooter
References
- ↑ Shennan, Paddy (30 November 2009). "Johnny Vegas: I lost myself in 'Johnny Vegas'". Liverpool Echo.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Johnny Vegas turns out for Saints". BBC News. 3 February 2005.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Heaton, Paul. "@paulheatonsolo". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Aitkenhead, Decca (13 March 2006). "Here's Johnny ...". The Guardian.
- ↑ Sturges, Fiona (2 July 2011). "Johnny Vegas: 'I never liked being the centre of attention'". The Independent.
- ↑ Lezard, Nicholas (1 September 2002). "Radio: Comedy turns on the potter's wheel; Night Class Radio 4". The Independent (London, England).
- ↑ Thompson, Ben (2004). Sunshine on Putty: The Golden Age of British Comedy. HarperCollins. p. 383.
- ↑ "Arts Diary: Night Class for Vegas. (Features)". Daily Post (Liverpool, UK). 12 August 2002. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ↑ "Just a Minute wins Sony Award". funny.co.uk. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ↑ "Johnny Vegas sitcom 'Ideal' to be made into film". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Johnny Vegas blasts BBC Three exec Zai Bennett over 'Ideal' axe". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Sheridan Smith, Johnny Vegas join David Walliams's 'Mr Stink'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "World Cup celebrated on ITV with new animated football comedy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑
- ↑ "Secrets From The Clink: Comedian Johnny Vegas's reveals he is actually a southerner - Hot TV - Showbiz and TV - Latest Celeb Gossip, TV, Film, Pop and Celeb News - Daily Star - Daily Star". Dailystar.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Johnny Vegas to return for Still Open All Hours". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Harry Hill Movie premiere guests: From Sheridan Smith to a giant hamster". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Johnny Vegas biography". webarchive.org.
- ↑ "Johnny Vegas biography". BBC website.
- ↑ Clennell, Andrew (28 September 2002). "Comic sells pictures to Viz for £1". The Guardian.
- ↑ "Comedian Johnny Vegas marries girlfriend Maia Dunphy in Spain". Ghana MMA. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ↑
- ↑ BBC One, The One Show, 17 December 2012. Interview with Nicky Gumbel and Johnny Vegas
- ↑ "Johnny Vegas awarded Honorary Doctorate". Edge Hill University. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ "Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas to judge ITV's 'Show Me The Funny'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑
- ↑ "Celebrity Fifteen to One". digiguide.tv. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ "Celebrity Fifteen to One". RadioTimes. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑
- ↑ "House of Fools - Episode 2 - Credits". BBC - House of Fools. BBC. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
External links
- Johnny Vegas at the Internet Movie Database
- Sitting pretty by Miranda Sawyer – The Guardian, 15 May 2005.
- St Helens Rugby
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