Johnny Vegas

Presenter0:00

Hello, I'm Kirsty Young. Thank you for downloading this podcast of Desert Island Discs from BBC Radio 4. For rights reasons the music choices are shorter than in the radio broadcast.

Presenter0:10

For more information about the programme, please visit bbc.co.uk/slash radio four.

Presenter0:34

My Castaway this week is Johnny Vegas. As a stand up comic, he made his name as one of the most unpredictable and brilliant acts on the circuit. His stage persona, a self pitying drunk, belligerently heckling an audience who at times were unclear if they were watching a well honed comedy act

Presenter0:51

or witnessing a genuine breakdown.

Presenter0:53

These days, with his stand up work behind him and after a good degree of success as an actor, he describes himself as an entertainer.

Presenter1:00

He has also consigned his heavy drinking to the past, and lost a third of his body weight, both part of a plan to ensure he reaches the ripe old age of forty, and can be a proper father to his young son.

Presenter1:12

He once said I always consider myself creatively at my best when at odds with the world. You once said that. I'm wondering now if you still feel that way, that it's always better to be the the grit in the oyster.

Johnny Vegas1:23

Yeah.

Presenter1:23

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas1:24

I think it was certainly right.

Johnny Vegas1:27

For Johnny, as a character.

Johnny Vegas1:30

I think it does, but I'd run out of anger.

Johnny Vegas1:33

Right.

Johnny Vegas1:35

I think people can see when something is genuine and when something's manufactured. And although I always enjoyed

Johnny Vegas1:43

Mixing facts with a little bit of fiction.

Johnny Vegas1:47

There is a point where you go

Johnny Vegas1:49

Life's actually turned round and been very good to me. You have lost a lot of weight. How much weight have you lost?

Johnny Vegas1:55

I'm not entirely sure because I didn't wear myself before I started, but it would have been.

Johnny Vegas2:02

Possibly four storm five. I was just judging it by trouser size.

Johnny Vegas2:10

Amanes are slightly more generous with that.

Johnny Vegas2:13

With the size, it's so getting down to a thirty-eight was a big whoop and holla moment for me.

Presenter2:13

Yeah.

Presenter2:18

Away from the changing rooms. When I was uh introducing you there, I used the name Johnny Vegas. Of course, it's a stage name. Of course, you weren't born Johnny Vegas. And interesting that you referred to

Presenter2:27

To Johnny Vegas there in the third person. Do you feel comfortable as me introducing you with that name, or do you feel it should be your real name?

Johnny Vegas2:33

No, I'm I'm very comfortable with it because to a lot of people

Johnny Vegas2:38

Yeah, but that represents

Presenter2:40

Yeah, but that represents a certain thing, doesn't it? It represents that guy who sort of was on the edge and as I say there was that is this for real? Is this guy absolutely losing the place here? And am I witnessing it? Or is it a beautifully confected, honed stage act?

Johnny Vegas2:55

Well, I think with Janet, what started off as something very well constructed.

Johnny Vegas3:01

with absolute parameters.

Johnny Vegas3:04

There was a danger point of other things in your life.

Johnny Vegas3:09

Seeping in were the lines were blurred for the wrong reasons.

Presenter3:12

Right. So your your life started to imitate your art, as it were?

Johnny Vegas3:12

So you are you

Johnny Vegas3:15

Yeah, I found a a popularity.

Johnny Vegas3:19

Through self-destruction.

Johnny Vegas3:21

Suddenly the more you damage yourself, the more people are drawn to you.

Johnny Vegas3:25

And that can be quite a dope.

Presenter3:27

The

Johnny Vegas3:27

Uh

Presenter3:27

You're trapped by your own creation and that creation is very destructive for you as an individual.

Johnny Vegas3:32

It is when you when you realize that

Johnny Vegas3:35

It's not a lifestyle.

Johnny Vegas3:37

We could maintain.

Presenter3:39

There could hardly be a more appropriate opening uh disc then. T tell me what it is you've chosen.

Presenter3:45

That the

Johnny Vegas3:45

The scope chosen first is Johnny Cash and Hurt.

Johnny Vegas3:51

I chose this because I I think it's all about legacy.

Johnny Vegas3:56

And again having a son now.

Johnny Vegas3:59

And I think it was Dean Martin, I think it was his his family, but

Johnny Vegas4:03

You see a lot of these shows where the children had very little.

Johnny Vegas4:07

to do with the parents, and yet the children are expected to

Johnny Vegas4:12

Lord the parents says these great entertainers who gave everything away to the public, but gave nothing back to the to their own family, and I didn't want that.

Johnny Vegas4:22

For my own son, and I didn't want that for my family and the people closest to me. They've.

Johnny Vegas4:27

Got to know that they come first.

Johnny Vegas4:29

And that I oh I don't want to leave my son with just a pile of reviews.

Johnny Vegas4:34

From Edinburgh, I want to be his dad who can guide him the same way that my father guided me.

Speaker 34:39

Everyone I know goes away.

Speaker 34:44

In the year.

Speaker 34:48

And you could have it all.

Speaker 34:54

My Empire of Dirt

Speaker 34:59

I will let you down.

Speaker 35:04

I will make you.

Presenter5:09

That was Johnny Cash and Hurt. So, Johnny Vegas, um, you mentioned there your father and the kind of uh father that he's been to you. When you were a little boy, w y your dad was a joiner. Yeah.

Johnny Vegas5:20

Yeah.

Presenter5:20

And your mum was was she at home?

Johnny Vegas5:23

Yeah, my my mum uh We stayed at home or did various cleaning jobs as as and when they they came along.

Presenter5:31

You famously used to do a bit in your stand-up about um eating the pet rabbit. Oh I heard it and I laughed and I obviously thought it was a joke.

Presenter5:39

I learn from reading the cuttings that it wasn't a joke.

Johnny Vegas5:42

Uh

Presenter5:42

What happened?

Johnny Vegas5:43

It was one of those mornings that my dad got us up

Johnny Vegas5:45

The school

Johnny Vegas5:47

As we were leaving the school you went right.

Johnny Vegas5:49

Whose rabbits going in the pot today?

Johnny Vegas5:52

I genuinely thought he was joking because it it was it was such a

Johnny Vegas5:56

Ridiculous concept.

Johnny Vegas5:59

Came in from school.

Johnny Vegas6:02

And he was out in the back cleaning out the hutch and

Johnny Vegas6:05

I sort of looked round the garden and

Johnny Vegas6:07

asked my dad where it was and he went, It's it's there and I looked up behind me and it was

Johnny Vegas6:12

It was skinned and hanging up.

Johnny Vegas6:15

Couldn't quite believe it, so I there was no tears, I didn't react, my sister went absolutely berserk and my mum.

Presenter6:22

Did they?

Johnny Vegas6:22

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas6:23

And my dad had always claimed that that rabbits were livestock.

Johnny Vegas6:27

But we'd never eaten one before.

Johnny Vegas6:30

Madad had been laid off.

Johnny Vegas6:33

That might have been not in itself

Johnny Vegas6:35

A breakdown or something, but

Johnny Vegas6:38

I just wonder if it was a man at the end of his tether.

Presenter6:40

Uh

Johnny Vegas6:41

Yeah.

Presenter6:41

How aware were you then, um

Presenter6:43

throughout your childhood that money was a was a very or a lack of money was a was a big shadow.

Johnny Vegas6:49

I was very worried. There was a definite incident one day when

Johnny Vegas6:56

I was nagging my dad over an ice cream.

Johnny Vegas6:59

and nagging and nagging. He took me outside to the end of the street.

Johnny Vegas7:05

And just said to me, I got laid off today.

Johnny Vegas7:08

There'd been other children at school whose dads had been laid off and

Johnny Vegas7:13

There's that little bit of dread of, you know, kids coming back in the same school uniform pants, getting shorter and the nicknames that, you know, pulver things that

Johnny Vegas7:23

And then he he went to her Look, here's some money, get an ice cream, but do me a favour, don't.

Johnny Vegas7:29

Ask me for a while.

Johnny Vegas7:32

the last thing I wanted and I I I felt it's such a

Johnny Vegas7:36

Little gift for you know what I mean, for sorry, you know what I mean? I I just felt awful. I felt like this spoiled brat then who'd been nagging and nagging and nagging and I should have understood and I didn't.

Johnny Vegas7:46

How old would you have been, then?

Johnny Vegas7:47

I'd have been about nine. Right. Within a year I'd have been heading off to to seminary school. There was a lot of equipment and uniform and things that you needed to have.

Johnny Vegas8:01

there was a realization that although they were they were trying to keep it from me that

Johnny Vegas8:06

That was bankrupt to them.

Presenter8:08

I want to talk to you much more about seminary school and all that entailed in just a second. Johnny, tell me what's your next record then?

Johnny Vegas8:15

My next record is uh Deacon Blue and Dignita.

Johnny Vegas8:19

Both mapper elements held themselves.

Johnny Vegas8:23

through a very difficult time and throughout the eighties being unemployed and I think every day must just have been that heartbreaking thought of where's where's the next bit of money coming from.

Johnny Vegas8:37

They they just got on, but they got on with an amazing amount of dignity and and we came through it remarkably well when it could have been you know what I mean, it could have been a lot worse and it must have destroyed a lot of other families.

Speaker 38:56

And I'm telling a story in a far away

Speaker 39:00

Sippin' down racket and reading made our keys And I'm thinking about home and all that that means And a place in the winter for dead

Presenter9:16

That was Deacon Blue and Didn't see. So there you are, Johnny Vegas. You're the youngest of four children. You're living in St Helens in Lancashire, and you decide or do you decide, or do your parents decide?

Presenter9:27

That life in a seminary is the life for you.

Presenter9:31

How does that come about?

Johnny Vegas9:33

It came about from

Johnny Vegas9:35

My saying that I wanted to be a priest.

Johnny Vegas9:37

From a young age.

Johnny Vegas9:40

But I think saying it because I enjoyed the reaction that it got. What reaction did it get?

Johnny Vegas9:44

Oh, it was fantastic. The ambition of every parish is to produce its own priest.

Johnny Vegas9:50

But I'd s I know for s certain my mum

Johnny Vegas9:53

Really didn't want me to go.

Johnny Vegas9:55

Uh

Presenter9:55

Uh

Johnny Vegas9:55

How do you

Presenter9:56

You know that she told you that night?

Johnny Vegas9:56

That that's come out in conversations now and I I think

Johnny Vegas10:02

With a lot of the negative press of late, I think it's something that my mum suspected.

Presenter10:07

Right, so she was thinking, I'm sending my little boy away to I know not what. Yeah. Right.

Johnny Vegas10:11

Right.

Presenter10:12

And what sort of little boy were you then? I mean, did you like football? Did you play around with your brothers and sisters?

Johnny Vegas10:16

Yeah, I was pretty much the happy go lucky

Johnny Vegas10:20

Nine years old.

Johnny Vegas10:22

Kid, really. Um

Johnny Vegas10:25

academically quite

Johnny Vegas10:27

Promise

Presenter10:28

Titan?

Johnny Vegas10:28

Uh

Johnny Vegas10:29

Uh

Presenter10:29

I had a lovely life.

Presenter10:31

And so at eleven you go to the seminary, and what's that like? What are your memories?

Presenter10:36

It rule.

Johnny Vegas10:36

really hadn't sunk him.

Johnny Vegas10:38

What was happening until the first night?

Johnny Vegas10:42

You're in this big, imposing school in its own grounds, you know what I mean? It was it wa as I I suppose everybody else was was was just horrendously homesick.

Johnny Vegas10:53

It was

Presenter10:54

Shell shock. And how quickly did you realise that?

Presenter10:58

Maybe I don't want to be a priest after all.

Johnny Vegas11:01

I think it was the sales events that made me

Johnny Vegas11:04

Realize I I didn't want it to be a police.

Johnny Vegas11:07

I didn't like the regime.

Johnny Vegas11:09

It just seemed to be a place that wanted to strip you of any individuality.

Presenter11:15

And so how quickly did you come home?

Johnny Vegas11:17

I laugh.

Johnny Vegas11:20

In the fourth term, I stuck out my first year and

Johnny Vegas11:25

For me the place had

Johnny Vegas11:27

Very little to do with religion and a lot more to do with regime. I'd come on for Christmas.

Johnny Vegas11:35

And we'd gone to benediction and we were due to drive back that evening. And I turned to my dad and told him that

Johnny Vegas11:45

I didn't want to go back.

Johnny Vegas11:49

And my mum was in floods of tears, and the worst thing is at the time

Johnny Vegas11:53

I thought I'd broke her heart by leaving.

Johnny Vegas11:56

It was quite the opposite, as it turns out.

Johnny Vegas11:59

It was such a relief for it.

Presenter12:01

And was there any sort of local, small scale disgrace in the boy coming home from the seminary?

Johnny Vegas12:09

I felt like there was. I felt on me. I felt on myself.

Johnny Vegas12:14

That I'd I'd let a lot of people down.

Johnny Vegas12:17

Everything in my life has been about you laugh things off, you make a joke.

Johnny Vegas12:22

It was very hard because things th there were things that went on at th at that school. It was very difficult to come back at weekends and people say, What you're doing is a wonderful thing.

Johnny Vegas12:32

And you quietly go in, It's not a wonderful thing, and it's not a wonderful place.

Presenter12:37

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas12:37

Uh Were you abused there?

Johnny Vegas12:40

I wasn't no.

Johnny Vegas12:42

But you and it's a very difficult thing to talk about in public because

Johnny Vegas12:46

For people who are

Johnny Vegas12:48

Or were

Johnny Vegas12:51

It's

Johnny Vegas12:53

Is it really up to me to drag that into the spotlight?

Presenter12:56

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas12:57

And discuss that. Uh

Presenter12:58

I suppose what I am asking is there was a level of activity there that even as a young boy you were aware of, that other people were going through?

Johnny Vegas13:07

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas13:09

And it

Johnny Vegas13:12

I think like you say when I left there was

Johnny Vegas13:17

For a long time I felt very guilty as soon when I left I almost wanted to take everybody else with me.

Presenter13:24

We're going to take a break. Let's have some music then. Tell me about what you're. We're on disc number three now, Johnny. What are you going to choose?

Johnny Vegas13:30

The track I've chosen now is Love Rain, O Me.

Johnny Vegas13:35

The Who is one of them bands I could have chosen any song, but this one in particular.

Johnny Vegas13:41

It was at a point where I was somebody who was the most unsuccessful teenager with women.

Johnny Vegas13:50

This this was a lug song that also contained all my frustrations at having been everybody every girl's best friend, but not the bloat they actually wanted to kiss.

Speaker 314:01

And bring the rain!

Speaker 314:04

That makes you young.

Speaker 314:07

To the sky.

Speaker 314:11

Only love can bring the rain.

Speaker 314:17

That falls like tears from on high.

Presenter14:30

That was the Who and Love Rain Owenie, Johnny Vegas comedian, actor ceramicist.

Presenter14:36

Seems unlikely, doesn't it?

Johnny Vegas14:37

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas14:41

Uh sorry came into my life because I

Johnny Vegas14:44

struggled to to fit in.

Johnny Vegas14:48

I just wanted to be the normal kid once once I got back home. I want you know what I mean? I wanted to.

Johnny Vegas14:53

Drink cider, stand by bus stops, do everything everybody else did. I just

Johnny Vegas14:58

I had this thing hanging over me that's the priest boy.

Johnny Vegas15:02

I j I just wanted to blend in.

Presenter15:06

Were you funny? Did you make people laugh?

Johnny Vegas15:08

I don't think I was. Um

Johnny Vegas15:12

There was little bits of entertainment. I, you know

Johnny Vegas15:16

play me nose in class and play some

Johnny Vegas15:19

You'd play what in class, did you say? I used to play my nose. That was my little entertainment piece. As a musical instrument. Yeah. What did you play? I played an Hawaiian tune and I had a quiet ambition to get on that's life.

Presenter15:33

Sounds like you should have made it.

Johnny Vegas15:34

I finished school with with a few O levels, but

Johnny Vegas15:37

I think in a way it's very disappointing in terms of what I

Johnny Vegas15:40

academically should have been able to achieve.

Johnny Vegas15:44

My sister in the meantime pushed ahead with art, went away and did uh studied fashion.

Johnny Vegas15:51

She ca paved the way to go to college. None of us had had had been to college before. And when I went to sixth form, it was the first classroom, the first environment where

Johnny Vegas16:01

A teacher basically said, You come in and work when you want.

Johnny Vegas16:05

You couldn't get me out of that.

Presenter16:07

You said uh earlier that just like a lot of teenage boys, you know, you wanted to hang around the bus shelter and drink cider. I mean, were you were you drinking at that point in your life, sort of um in a committed way? I was when I could get the money, yeah. Right. And how did you manage for money at university then? Did you have enough cash?

Johnny Vegas16:21

I did, I got a full grant. Um my dad had warned me before I'd left to try and save some money because what they'd experienced with Catherine was there was a lot of

Johnny Vegas16:33

People live from

Johnny Vegas16:35

far better off background than us. And I was I was quite

Johnny Vegas16:40

blase about that until I I I got there and I r I ran up a lot of debt.

Johnny Vegas16:45

In my first year.

Johnny Vegas16:48

But then in the second year the party was over, there was no money and my m my family couldn't afford to send me that money and suddenly a friend in need is a pest.

Johnny Vegas16:59

God forgive me, it me it was a very

Johnny Vegas17:01

Bad time when I started to resent my parent I I resented when I first went there, I resented my parents for not

Johnny Vegas17:08

Being able to support me.

Johnny Vegas17:10

But yeah, I g I graduated and then realised.

Johnny Vegas17:14

It wasn't the most commercially uh

Johnny Vegas17:17

Successful move I've ever made.

Johnny Vegas17:20

A degree in ceramics.

Johnny Vegas17:22

When have I ever gone into the doll and they've had a card up? said Teapot Mender.

Johnny Vegas17:28

I sat on the train with my dad and and just went, I've made a huge mistake.

Johnny Vegas17:34

Which after four years and putting them through all that financial pressure is not really what you want to hear from your graduate son, is it?

Presenter17:44

Let's have some music then, Johnny Fingers.

Johnny Vegas17:45

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas17:48

What we're good to hear.

Johnny Vegas17:50

We're gonna hear Pulp and common people. When when I was at college

Johnny Vegas17:57

There was a lot of resentments building up that I was only really aware of when I started doing Johnny Vericks and and performing. One of them was inverted snobbinate, and it was a resentment of these people who who just had everything. If you called your daddy could stop it all, and my daddy couldn't. And this song came along and just said it perfectly. Thank you, Poop.

Johnny Vegas18:21

Thank you, Jarvis.

Johnny Vegas18:24

And then it's a

Speaker 318:24

30 seconds time, she said I wanna live like common people I wanna do whatever common people do Wanna sleep with common people

Speaker 318:38

I wanna sleep with common people like you

Speaker 318:43

Or what else?

Speaker 318:45

Just

Speaker 318:46

Massetra.

Speaker 318:48

I see what I can do.

Presenter18:52

That was pulp and common people. You said thank you to Jarvis Cocker there. Jarvis, of course, in that song Gets the Girls. You were saying at school you didn't get the girls. Did it help at university that you were one of the common people? Did it attract the ladies?

Presenter19:04

Hey D

Johnny Vegas19:04

Didn't

Presenter19:05

Uh

Johnny Vegas19:05

Yeah.

Presenter19:05

Uh

Johnny Vegas19:05

Got to

Johnny Vegas19:07

an urging my life would be what twenty two twenty three and without ever having

Johnny Vegas19:12

Had a girlfriend.

Johnny Vegas19:14

I'd actually reached a point in my life when I thought I was I was just gonna be single and at that.

Johnny Vegas19:20

Just wasn't meant for me.

Johnny Vegas19:23

That I wasn't a relationships sort of person that I perhaps was.

Johnny Vegas19:30

better off on my own. I I I've pretty much just resigned myself to the fact that

Johnny Vegas19:35

Women didn't see me.

Johnny Vegas19:37

In the same way that I saw them.

Presenter19:40

I'm imagining when you became uh even when you started to become well known in the comedy circuit, that all changed. I mean, you know, people like somebody who's well known and up on stage. It did. Did that make you cynical about what was happening, though, because you knew that there you had been, th this this friend of so many women, but lover of none, who suddenly was able to attract women?

Johnny Vegas20:00

It did, but the I think the the relief.

Johnny Vegas20:03

Quite literally.

Johnny Vegas20:08

Pessimism. Again, I I think what what came together was I

Johnny Vegas20:15

met somebody at the time that was very nice and v very understanding and so I didn't

Johnny Vegas20:21

fall into the

Johnny Vegas20:23

The group be lifestyle.

Presenter20:25

It was nineteen ninety seven then. That was sort of your breakthrough year. That was when you were nominated for a a Perrier and you were named Most Promising Newcomer. I mean, I I described it as your breakthrough moment. Were you conscious of that at the time it was happening?

Johnny Vegas20:38

I I think so, and I I think it it established me outside of the North West.

Johnny Vegas20:44

As a festival it was brilliant. Within three days we'd sold.

Johnny Vegas20:49

We pretty much sold out the run. I loved it. It was just one long, very hard part.

Johnny Vegas20:56

With the gigs thrown in for good measure, you know what I mean?

Johnny Vegas20:59

Everything came together.

Johnny Vegas21:01

And people got it. Everybody was getting it. Critics were getting it. Audiences were loving it. Perfect.

Presenter21:07

Let's have another piece of music then. Track number five.

Johnny Vegas21:10

Track number five is Colin Hay and it's it's Waiting for My Real Life to Begin. This has become a song in the in the past few years that

Johnny Vegas21:21

In Darker Moments, this is a song that you've got to believe that you're going to come through.

Johnny Vegas21:28

If it's not enough for the circuit yourself, then for other people.

Johnny Vegas21:32

It's gimme that little bit of a push.

Johnny Vegas21:34

To just get off my backside and get on with it.

Speaker 321:37

And you say

Speaker 321:39

Be still, my love.

Speaker 321:42

On pay another heart.

Speaker 321:45

Leopard lights shining

Speaker 321:50

Don't you understand?

Speaker 321:53

I already have a plan.

Speaker 321:57

I'm waiting for my real life to begin.

Presenter22:04

Colin Hay and waiting for my real life to begin. So, Johnny Vegas, um, you became this to pick out a cutting, you know, the hell-raising heavyweight comic, rarely seen without a pint of Guinness in his hand. That was your identity. That was the identity people paid tickets to see. That was why you got on T V. That's what people wanted from you.

Johnny Vegas22:22

They did whilst I was trying to craft Vegas. My usual approach was to just get as drunk as possible and

Johnny Vegas22:30

I mean, I can count one hundred times that I've gone on stage.

Johnny Vegas22:33

added Johnny without a drink.

Presenter22:36

At its worst, how badly did the drinking affect your life? I mean what were the points at which things were out of control?

Johnny Vegas22:43

I think there was a period in my life after college when I I became so resentful even towards friends for

Johnny Vegas22:53

There was nothing happening in my life, but I wasn't making anything happen.

Johnny Vegas22:56

I'd always drunk to socialize, I'd always

Johnny Vegas22:59

You know, pubs with a were with a cult trip, everything centered around the pub.

Johnny Vegas23:05

But this wasn't this was drinking in a room on your own.

Johnny Vegas23:09

And blaming the world for you not being where you thought you should be.

Johnny Vegas23:14

But then oddly enough the career took you back towards that path of of you know, I thought I could maybe it was arrogant that I thought I could go out and play

Johnny Vegas23:24

The hell raised but then put Johnny back in his box.

Presenter23:26

Grim.

Johnny Vegas23:27

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas23:28

And I think within my personal life I went through

Johnny Vegas23:32

a separation and a divorce and I think I was just b I was burning bridges with people because I wanted people to know I was desperately upset.

Johnny Vegas23:43

What sort of a husband were you?

Johnny Vegas23:45

Do you honestly think?

Johnny Vegas23:48

It lasted long enough to find out.

Johnny Vegas23:51

How long are you married for?

Johnny Vegas23:52

Lesson by less than two years.

Presenter23:54

But

Johnny Vegas23:55

I think it from a relationship like that it's it's not being guarded about it. I think it's one of those things that when it's very bitter it'd be a long time.

Johnny Vegas24:04

Before you can sit down and actually look at your own mistakes within a relationship, like within within a marriage.

Presenter24:10

Are you not drinking now?

Presenter24:12

Uh

Johnny Vegas24:12

I do drink now.

Johnny Vegas24:14

For me, drinkers has served me.

Johnny Vegas24:17

Wonderfully. It helped me create Johnny.

Johnny Vegas24:21

I see it as as something that's done a lot for me.

Johnny Vegas24:24

But something that can turn on you.

Johnny Vegas24:27

at any moment, and check it all back.

Johnny Vegas24:29

I enjoy a drink, and I always wanted to be able to enjoy a drink, and I never wanted the drink to get to a point where you go.

Johnny Vegas24:38

It's either the drink or nothing else. Do you know what I mean? That you c if you c if you can't strike that happy balance between

Presenter24:40

But you can't.

Johnny Vegas24:44

Going out and not being

Johnny Vegas24:46

A part of your socializing, but not a part of your everyday existence.

Presenter24:50

And can you strike the balance?

Johnny Vegas24:52

I think I can.

Johnny Vegas24:56

But I'm also

Johnny Vegas24:58

I gain very afraid when I was talking about my parents before.

Johnny Vegas25:02

And how they came through difficult situations. I can strike that balance when things are going good.

Johnny Vegas25:10

Are you a strong enough personality to be able to strike that balance?

Johnny Vegas25:14

Under the Motion on Jurass.

Presenter25:16

Uh

Johnny Vegas25:16

And are you?

Johnny Vegas25:18

In the past

Johnny Vegas25:20

Couldn't really say I've come to with flying colours.

Presenter25:24

Uh

Johnny Vegas25:24

Let's have some music that's going to be.

Johnny Vegas25:27

I should point that out.

Johnny Vegas25:31

I'm coming out incredibly earnest, you know that you got I like balloons.

Johnny Vegas25:37

Do you say yeah sorry right yeah the next song

Johnny Vegas25:41

The beautiful south needs domino man.

Johnny Vegas25:44

This is really a tribute to pubs and that pub culture.

Speaker 325:47

Through ugly pints and Sunday breath Said men who stare as cold as death Through wild lapels and glued up eyes To made-up kids and made-up wives

Speaker 325:59

Sitting in the heart of them is a man who's not like other men Don't you know just who I am, another wing

Speaker 326:09

I am the dominant man

Speaker 326:11

And if you

Presenter26:17

That was the Beautiful South and Domino Man. You are now, Johnny Vegas, of course, a well-respected actor, the ragged trouser philanthropist, Bleak House, Happiness. Benadorm was the big IT V hit, watched by nine million people. Um did you decide to become an actor, or did people just call your agent and say I think you might be quite good at this?

Presenter26:37

It was something I

Johnny Vegas26:39

Quietly wanted to do.

Johnny Vegas26:41

But um without having the formal training.

Johnny Vegas26:47

I didn't really feel very confident about putting myself out there and saying I want to act because I thought if you can't do it Did you feel quite self-conscious to be in groups of serious proper actors? I always have and it's something I've never really got to grips with. You still do? Yeah. I always felt like I would I was never fully doing justice to something that somebody else had written.

Presenter27:10

Your parents didn't come to see you do your stand-up, but I'm imagining they watch the stuff you do on TV.

Presenter27:15

Yeah, they do.

Johnny Vegas27:18

Well, do you love it? I mean, it it's really nice to finally do something like with Benedome, something that Miriam can discuss.

Johnny Vegas27:25

without bringing shame upon the family.

Johnny Vegas27:28

Is she you say sh

Presenter27:29

She's supportive, is she proud? Yeah.

Presenter27:31

Yeah, Valet. Um'cause you live in St Helens, is that where you are you based there? Are you based at home in your hometown?

Johnny Vegas27:36

I'm I'm based in between St Ellen's and Dublin at the moment. Right. But yes, my home is is St Helens.

Presenter27:43

And Dublin is for reasons of love.

Johnny Vegas27:44

lives in Dublin, so I travel between the two. My son lives in London but comes up to the north west.

Johnny Vegas27:55

When we have time together

Presenter27:56

So that sounds like quite a logistically complex life you're living there. Dublin and the North West and London and

Johnny Vegas28:00

Dublin and

Johnny Vegas28:03

It is, but it's it's a life that makes me very happy. I'm very contented with the way life is at the moment, so I get back.

Presenter28:12

Right. Let's have some more music then. Disc number six.

Johnny Vegas28:14

Number seven is It's the Lars and there she goes. Now, for somebody who I've probably come across as so melancholic.

Johnny Vegas28:22

Well, I've been talking to you.

Johnny Vegas28:24

I love love songs.

Johnny Vegas28:26

I live for love and it and it it's

Johnny Vegas28:28

Such an influential

Johnny Vegas28:31

Presence in me life.

Johnny Vegas28:32

From somebody who told themselves, you know what I mean, that this probably wouldn't be for me, and that relationships would would would that that just wouldn't happen.

Johnny Vegas28:42

I think from being somebody who

Johnny Vegas28:44

Was a loner and and probably got off on the notion of being a loner.

Johnny Vegas28:50

I now have a lady in my life that that just.

Johnny Vegas28:55

That smile makes the day.

Johnny Vegas28:57

Some did that.

Johnny Vegas28:59

Can come along and make you realize that my life isn't best lived on my own.

Johnny Vegas29:06

And with Michael, I love my son till the day I die. Nothing can ever change that. Whether I've struggled through my faith, through drinking, through anything.

Johnny Vegas29:19

Just that one guarantee has made the world of difference to my life.

Johnny Vegas29:25

And I'm not a misery gut, so here we are with the Lars and there she goes.

Speaker 329:35

Down together.

Speaker 329:38

Race and cool.

Speaker 329:41

Yeah.

Presenter29:59

That was the Laz, a happy song, Johnny Vegas, and there she goes. And what about the the the life that you've hinted at, that life of of the performer? You you've talked a l a bit about your son, uh Michael, and the feeling is, what, that you don't want to give up your life to performing, only for him to think, Well, that's my dad, but I hardly know him.

Johnny Vegas30:18

Yeah, that that's it exactly. And it's I d I it can be.

Johnny Vegas30:26

The the performance side of your life, it it

Johnny Vegas30:28

It can be a very shallow existence.

Johnny Vegas30:32

And I just couldn't forgive myself if he if he thought he came second. Because I always did with my parents. You're forty this year then.

Presenter30:43

How does forty feel?

Johnny Vegas30:49

A lot better than I actually expected.

Johnny Vegas30:52

I've actually made it.

Johnny Vegas30:54

That was one point in my life I actually thought, will I will I reach forty?

Johnny Vegas30:59

I hope it's th the start of a far less dramatic chapter. And I would like my thought is to just to be that period of of

Johnny Vegas31:11

Focusing on on

Johnny Vegas31:14

The people closest to me.

Presenter31:15

Tell me what your final record is then.

Johnny Vegas31:18

The final record is Don McLean, Vincent's.

Johnny Vegas31:22

And I chose this because uh growing up I I

Johnny Vegas31:27

I tended to listen to music that was knocking about the house with my siblings, but I was very fortunate that there was some quality music lying around.

Johnny Vegas31:36

And Don McLean, especially now, I I sit down and I I I'm trying to do a lot more writing now and I both almost love and loathe him because if I could just write one of these lines at any point in my life, you know, create anything as beautiful as as as a song like this, um I could professionally walk away a very happy man.

Speaker 232:06

Now I understand.

Speaker 232:10

What you try to say to me

Speaker 232:15

And how you suffered for your sanity And how you tried to set them free They would not listen, they did not know how

Speaker 232:29

Perhaps they'll listen.

Presenter32:29

Perhaps

Presenter32:33

That was Don MacLean and Vincent. So, Johnny, it comes to the point then where I'm going to give you a copy of the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare and what's your book going to be that you'll take to the island.

Presenter32:46

Uh

Johnny Vegas32:46

I will take

Johnny Vegas32:50

The Rangichar is a philanthropist.

Johnny Vegas32:52

I learn something from it every time every time I read it.

Presenter32:54

Yeah.

Presenter32:56

Its user.

Johnny Vegas32:56

And a lot

Presenter32:57

Luxury two.

Johnny Vegas32:57

Uh

Johnny Vegas32:58

A killed.

Johnny Vegas33:00

A kiln. A kiln. Uh a a pottery kiln. Yeah.

Johnny Vegas33:05

I'd

Johnny Vegas33:06

Although when I finished at college w I was never financially gonna feed myself or look after anybody for what I made, I really miss it. It's an incredibly therapeutic thing to do.

Johnny Vegas33:21

Uh

Presenter33:21

Let's hope it's clay based soil, then. A kiln is yours. And if you had to choose just one of these eight disks to day, which one disc would you save?

Presenter33:29

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas33:29

Yeah.

Presenter33:30

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas33:30

Oh no. Um

Presenter33:34

It'd be Johnny Cash and.

Presenter33:37

Yeah.

Johnny Vegas33:37

Yeah.

Presenter33:37

Uh Hurt. It's yours. Johnny Vegas, thank you very much for letting us hear your desert island discs.

Presenter33:42

Uh

Johnny Vegas33:42

Yeah.

Presenter33:42

Uh

Presenter33:43

Five minutes.

Speaker 334:21

Uh

Presenter34:30

You've been listening to a download from the BBC. You'll find more information on the Radio Four website bbc. co dot uk slash radio four.