Michael Joseph Pennington (born 5 September 1970), known professionally as Johnny Vegas, is an English actor, comedian, artist 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).
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. 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. Between 1994 and 1997, he was a member of Cluub Zarathustra, a comedy performance group led by Stewart Lee, Roger Mann, and Simon Munnery.
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 2012, Vegas played the role of Mr. Croombe in the television film adaptation of David Walliams's children's book Mr Stink.
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.