Becoming Johnny Vegas, Johnny Vegas
Becoming Johnny Vegas, Johnny Vegas
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
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Becoming Johnny Vegas

Author: Johnny Vegas

Narrator: Johnny Vegas

Unabridged: 11 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 09/26/2013

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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Baba on July 24, 2020

At times rather unsettling, this book takes a long look at Johnny Vegas' life and how the real person Johnny Vegas is, tried hard to contain and water down the manic, heavy drinking character of Johnny Vegas, throughout his life. Quite interesting! 6 out of 12.......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on March 06, 2021

Just as Johnny Vegas isn’t your usual comedian, Becoming Johnny Vegas isn’t your usual celebrity autobiography. Most of those I’ve read tend to be a collection of funny anecdotes interspersed with achievements and name-dropping. While Becoming Johnny Vegas includes all of that, it’s also so much mor......more

Goodreads review by E.J. on February 05, 2014

Brilliant. Finished listening to the audiobook and feel like I just lost a friend.......more

Goodreads review by Samuel on February 07, 2017

Although non-fiction, I read biographies for the sense of escape. I am not a movie star, or a hit musician, therefore reading about these lives is almost as removed from my reality as any science fiction book. However, as you grow older you start to see some biographies that chime a little more with......more

Goodreads review by Kay on December 22, 2016

Now I know why I always related to Johnny Vegas whenever I saw him on the telly, never having seen him perform on stage. He had low self esteem as a youngster, ditto, and has had to battle the demons in his head, which is where the persona Johnny Vegas comes from. A warts and all autobiography. Ther......more

Quotes

‘…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 ‘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

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