Listen to a sample
Becoming Johnny Vegas
- Author
- Johnny Vegas
- Narrator
- Johnny Vegas
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 26 September 2013
- Run Time
- 11 hours 45 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Rating
- 3.3 (3 reviews)
What to expect
‘My name is Michael Pennington, and I am not a comic character. I’m often mistaken for one though. You might know him by another name. Johnny Vegas.’
From BBC Dickens adaptations to Benidorm and Ideal to the PG Tips ads, Johnny Vegas has become one of Britain's best-loved comic actors.
But before he'd ever drunk tea with a knitted monkey or made himself the exception that proves the rule in terms of the predictability of TV panel game regulars, Johnny Vegas was perhaps the most fearlessly confessional stand-up comedian this country has ever produced.
How did an eleven-year-old Catholic trainee priest from St Helens grow up to become the North West of England’s answer to Lenny Bruce? That’s just one of the many questions answered by this eye-poppingly frank memoir.
Becoming Johnny Vegas establishes its author as the poet laureate of the Pimblett's pie.
Once you've finished this darkly hilarious tale of family, faith and the creative application of alcohol dependency, you'll never look at a copy of the Catholic men's society newsletter the same way again.
Critics Review
-
‘…book’s fabulous, buy it!’ Paul O’Grady
-
‘Extraordinary. A truly unusual showbiz memoir.’ Mark Lawson, Front Row, BBC Radio 4
-
‘A compelling tale of self-loathing, bristling with anger and bitterness, it still manages to be very funny and hold out hope of redemption.’ Daily Telegraph
-
'It's funny and a bit horrifying – with, at its best in the early sections, an almost Alan Bennettish feel for bathos.' The Best Memoirs of 2013, The Guardian
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
‘A characteristically in-yer-face narrative of how Michael Pennington became Johnny Vegas.’ The Independent
-
‘Michael Pennington – his real name – proves there’s more to Mr Vegas than meets the eye in this frank memoir.’ 100 Best Books For Christmas, The Telegraph
-
‘Altogether unique… as elegantly constructed as the finest literary novel.’ Catholic Herald
-
‘Reads like a novel.’ The Guardian
-
‘Eloquent, witty and perceptive, a fascinating study of creative catharsis.’ Metro
-
‘Rare is the celebrity memoir that’s as honest, insightful, revelatory and compelling as Becoming Johnny Vegas.’ Chortle
User Reviews
Book 3.3
Narration 3.7
-
2.0 2.0
Thought when I purchased this book, having read reviews,it was going to be witty, funny etc. What you would be expecting from an autobiography
Unfortunately in my hones opinion I have listened to 11hours of utter trash. Why did I complete it, well as the song goes. THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER, but a big alas, they didnt.
Would I read another of his books if bought out NO
Would I recommend this book, yet agai a big NO
Sorry.Nigel Tansley 2023-05-11 -
3.0 4.0
This is johnny Vegas as we all see on tv, but with Michael giving the insight as to how he became the genius we all love.
sborth1959 2023-02-21
Details
- Author
- Johnny Vegas
- Narrator
- Johnny Vegas
- Duration
- 11 hours 45 minutes
- Release Date
- 26 September 2013
- ISBN
- 9780007440467
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Autobiography: arts and entertainment, Humour
- Rating
- 3.3(3 reviews)
- Narration
- 3.7(3 reviews)
Synopsis
‘My name is Michael Pennington, and I am not a comic character. I’m often mistaken for one though. You might know him by another name. Johnny Vegas.’ From BBC Dickens adaptations to Benidorm and Ideal to the PG Tips ads, Johnny Vegas has become one of Britain's best-loved comic actors. But before he'd ever drunk tea with a knitted monkey or made himself the exception that proves the rule in terms of the predictability of TV panel game regulars, Johnny Vegas was perhaps the most fearlessly confessional stand-up comedian this country has ever produced. How did an eleven-year-old Catholic trainee priest from St Helens grow up to become the North West of England’s answer to Lenny Bruce? That’s just one of the many questions answered by this eye-poppingly frank memoir. Becoming Johnny Vegas establishes its author as the poet laureate of the Pimblett's pie. Once you've finished this darkly hilarious tale of family, faith and the creative application of alcohol dependency, you'll never look at a copy of the Catholic men's society newsletter the same way again.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.