Michael Pennington (b. 1971), better known as Johnny Vegas is a British comedian from the north-west town of St. Helens. He is known for his random rants, his husky voice and his drinking of Guinness. He appeared in a series of adverts for ITV Digital with a monkey made out of wool whose name was simply Monkey.

Comedy was not Vegas' first career choice. The child of strict Catholic parents, he joined a seminary at the age of 11 and then again at 24 after a bout of depression, but left on both occasions, deciding a career in the priesthood was not for him. He also studied ceramic design in London for three years and attempted to forge a career in pottery.

He won the Festival Critics' Award at the 1997 Edinburgh Festival, and was the first newcomer to be nominated for the Perrier Award. He was given his own segment on The Big Breakfast shortly before the show came to an end. As of 2002 he can be seen as a regular panellist on team B on Shooting Stars. Other profile-raising moments include a memorable guest appearance on Room 101, revealing an unhealthy obsession with computer chat rooms, and managing to break the icey exterior of Anne Robinson on the The Weakest Link in 2000.

Vegas has displayed his acting skills, with his award-winning performance as Charlie in Happiness, a guest appearance in Black Books and in the film Sex Lives of the Potato Men . He has displayed unshaking pride in the latter venture, despite it being labelled the worst film ever. He also stared in a BBC Radio 4 sitcom called Night Class about a pottery teacher called Johnny Vegas. Most recently, he has been appearing in the comedy-drama "Ideal", playing a drug dealer.

As of November 2004, he is filming Dead Man Weds. The writer and co-star of this series is Dave Spikey

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