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Johnny Vegas' real name and how he went from Argos worker to comedy legend

Johnny Vegas is just one of the eight celebs heading onto the new series Cooking With The Stars – airing on ITV from 9pm every Tuesday.

The show sees eight celebrity chefs team up with eight A-listers to teach them how to cook in the ultimate cooking competition.

The English comedian, actor, writer and director Johnny Vegas – who was christened Michael Joseph Pennington – is due to return to our screens for the new series.

Johnny will be teaming up with well-known celeb chef Rosemary Shrager, who has appeared on shows including Ladette to Lady and I’m a Celeb.

Where did Johnny Vegas grow up?

The life of Johnny Vegas – from boarding school misery to comedy success
(Image: Getty)

Growing up in Thatto Heath, Lancashire, he is the youngest of four children and attended a Catholic boarding school at the age of 11 but came home after just four terms because of homesickness.

Rosemary Shrager and Johnny Vegas on Cooking With The Stars
(Image: ITV)

Johnny later attended Middlesex University where he studied Art and Ceramics. After his time at University, he returned home and took up some part-time jobs.

This included working in an Argos warehouse, selling boiler insurance, packing bottles of Cif in a factory and becoming a barman at a local pub.

The beginning of his journey into the world of comedy, began between 1994 and 1997 when Johnny became a member of the comedy performance group, Cluub Zarathustra.

The now 50-year-old made his first TV appearance in 1996 as a contestant on Win, Lose or Draw, where he used his real name, Michael.

Johnny Vegas attends the ‘Early Man’ World Premiere
(Image: Getty Images)

After this first TV appearance, he began to become reconsigned as a comedian under the stage name of Johnny Vegas.

He was briefly shown on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and BBC Three’s Almost Famous where he began to become a well-known face across comedy and TV.

He appeared on a TV programme called Shooting Stars and in 2001 went on to the Weakest Link for a comedian special.

In 2002, he went into radio starring in BBC Radio 4’s sitcom, Night Class which he co-wrote and was a runner-up for the best comedy at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.

Continuing his journey through television Johnny starred in BBC Three, Ideal from 2005 to 2011.

Johnny Vegas played Geoff in Benidorm from 2007
(Image: ITV)

Following on to star in ITV, Benidorm between 2007 to 2009 and again later from 2015 to 2017 as Geoff Maltby also known as ‘The Oracle’.

Some other roles on TV included, David Walliams’ children novel, Mr Stink, the voice of ITV4 animated sitcoms, Warren United, BBC sitcom and Still Open All Hours.

He has also guest presented multiple episodes of Channel 4’s, Sunday Brunch, taken part in the game show, Drive, a comedy pilot called Home From Home and the voice of the animated children’s series, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud.

Some of his other roles include adverts for ITV Digital and PG Tips. As well as appearing on quiz shows as a frequent panellist such as QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Johnny Vegas’ PG Tips ads are some of the most-loved of all time
(Image: NC)

And if that wasn’t enough for Johnny’s career he has also featured in films, including The Virgin of Liverpool, Blackball and Sex Lives of the Potato Men.

Becoming the voice in the films, Terkel in Trouble, The Harry Hill Movie and Early Man.

With an extensive career through comedy, TV and film it’s no wonder Johnny has become a face we all recognise so well, along with his well known husky voice and quick wit.

Johnny will be appearing on ITV’s Cooking With The Stars, every Tuesday from 9pm.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk


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