33 Facts About Johnny Vegas

Johnny Vegas is known for his thick Lancashire accent, husky voice, chunky appearance, angry comedic rants, and use of surreal humour.

Johnny Vegas is a frequent guest on panel shows such as QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

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

Johnny Vegas has an older sister and two older brothers, alongside whom he was brought up as Catholic.

Whilst competing on Channel 4's festive special The Greatest Snowman, Johnny Vegas revealed that he had to play Santa Claus as his father was stuck at work.

Johnny Vegas says his athletics career came to a sudden end, aged 16, when McDonald's opened its first restaurant in St Helens.

Johnny Vegas earned a BA in Art and Ceramics from Middlesex University in the Hendon area of London, 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.

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

Johnny Vegas's appearance was briefly shown during Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and BBC Three's Almost Famous 2.

Johnny Vegas gained a wider audience as a regular member of Shooting Stars.

Johnny Vegas's character was a pitiable sort always nursing a pint of Guinness.

In 2002, Johnny 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.

Johnny Vegas played a former Butlin's redcoat teaching evening classes in pottery.

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

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

In 2012, Johnny Vegas played the role of Mr Croombe in a television adaptation of David Walliams' children's novel Mr Stink.

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

In May 2013, Johnny 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, Johnny Vegas has played Wet Eric Agnew in the revived BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours.

Johnny Vegas has guest presented numerous episodes of Sunday Brunch for Channel 4.

Johnny Vegas is a regular panellist on the quiz show QI, having starred in 12 episodes as of 2019.

Johnny Vegas has appeared as a guest panellist and team captain on Channel 4's 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, appearing in 11 episodes.

In 2003, Johnny Vegas played Jackie Symes in the film The Virgin of Liverpool, Alf Prince in the film Cheeky and Trevor in the film Blackball.

In 2013, Johnny Vegas was the voice of Abu the hamster in the British film The Harry Hill Movie.

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

Johnny Vegas appeared in Joe Orton's The Erpingham Camp at the 2000 Edinburgh Festival.

In 2001, Johnny Vegas starred as Al in adverts for ITV Digital with a puppet named Monkey.

In May 2017, it was announced Johnny Vegas would be starring in new comedy feature Eaten by Lions opposite Antonio Aakeel and Jack Carroll, directed by Jason Wingard.

Johnny 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.

Johnny Vegas 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, Johnny 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, Johnny Vegas was awarded an honorary doctorate from Edge Hill University.

Johnny Vegas is a supporter of the Labour Party and has spoken about his appreciation for the NHS.