Johnny Vegas

Michael Joseph Pennington (born 5 September 1970), known professionally as Johnny Vegas, is an English actor, comedian and writer. 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 (2007–2019) and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (2015–2019).

Early life Vegas was born Michael Joseph Pennington on 5 September 1970, in the Thatto Heath area of St Helens. 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.

Vegas earned a BA in Art and Ceramics from Middlesex University in London. Between 1994 and 1997, he was a member of Cluub Zarathustra, a comedy performance group led by Stewart Lee, Roger Mann, and Simon Munnery.

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". He featured on The Big Breakfast during the programme's final months before it ended in March 2002. 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.

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. It was a runner-up for best comedy at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.

He starred in the BBC Three sitcom Ideal as Moz from 2005 to 2011.

In 2005 he played Krook in the BBC adaptation of Dickens' Bleak House.

Between 2007 and 2009, Vegas played Geoff Maltby, aka "The Oracle", in the ITV sitcom Benidorm and from 2015 to 2017.

In 2014, Vegas voiced Fat Baz in the ITV4 animated sitcom Warren United.

In August 2014, Vegas took part in ITV's two-part documentary series Secrets from the Clink. In May 2013, Vegas played the role of Lord Ratspeaker in a BBC radio adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, adapted by Dirk Maggs.

From 2013 to 2019, Vegas has played Wet Eric Agnew in the revived BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours. Vegas has guest presented numerous episodes of Sunday Brunch for Channel 4.

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.

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, 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.

In 2017, Vegas starred opposite Sian Gibson in Gold's murder mystery-comedy film Murder on the Blackpool Express, reuniting for Death on the Tyne and Dial M for Middlesbrough. Since 2021, they have reprised their roles in the series Murder They Hope.

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 appeared 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.

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.

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.

Vegas provided the voice for Asbo in the 2018 Aardman Animations film Early Man.

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. 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 2014, he directed a music video for Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. That year he also published his autobiography.

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.

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. They separated in late 2006 and divorced in 2008. They had one child together.

In April 2011, he married Irish television presenter Maïa Dunphy in Seville. In January 2015, they announced that they were expecting their first child together. They separated in late 2017, reconciled in November 2018, and separated again some time before April 2020.

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. 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.

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.

In July 2014, Vegas was made an Honorary Doctor of Literature (HonDLitt) by Edge Hill University.

Vegas has spoken about his appreciation for the NHS.

Vegas has ADHD, for which he received a diagnosis at the age of 52.

Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 2003 The Virgin of Liverpool Jackie SymesJohnny 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 Russell2021 Paul Dood's Deadly Lunchbreak Rexsan The Drowning of Arthur Braxton Arthur Braxton Sr. 2024Time Travel Is DangerousRobert 2025 The Twits Mr. Twit (voice)

Television Year Title RoleNotesChannel 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 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 One2019 Celebrity Catchphrase Himself Contestant (1 episode) ITVThe Big Narstie ShowSeason 2 Episode 4Channel 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 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 ITV Sunday Brunch Himself / Guest 1 episode; 9 May 2021 Channel 4 Martin & Roman's Weekend Best! Himself / Guest 1 episode; 16 May 2021 ITV Cooking with the Stars Himself / Contestant Series 1; Semi-finalist ITV Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up Himself / Contestant 1 episode; 18 September 2021 ITV Mandy The Ghost of Christmas Past Christmas special "We Wish You A Mandy Christmas" BBC The Greatest Snowman Himself Contestant Channel 42021–2022 Murder, They Hope Terry Bremmer TV mini-series Gold2021, 2024 Johnny Vegas: Carry on Glamping Host / Presenter TV mini-series Channel 4 2022 Pointless Celebrities Himself Contestant BBC One Big Zuu's Big Eats Himself / Guest 1 episode; 4 July 2022 Dave2023 Romantic Getaway Alfie 6-part series Sky Max DNA Journey Himself With Alex Brooker ITV Blood Actually: A 'Murder, They Hope' Mystery Terry Bremmer Christmas comedy special Gold 2024 Apocalypse Slough: A Murder, They Hope Mystery Comedy special Gold Generation Z Jason 3 episodes Channel 4 World's Most Dangerous RoadsHimself One episode alongside Lucy Beaumont U&Dave 2025–present Johnny Vegas's Little Shop of Antiques Antiques show Quest 2025 Johnny Vegas: Art, ADHD and Me Two-part documentary Channel 4

Radio YearTitleRole 2008 The Ragged Trousered PhilanthropistsEaston 2010 Chequebook & Pen Les Dawson 2012 Diary of a Nobody Charles Pooter 2013 Neverwhere Lord Ratspeaker

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