Playhouse presents: Ragged

Photo: Andy Hollingworth

In 1973 Ricky Tomilinson was imprisoned for unlawful assembly and conspiracy when picketing for support in Britain’s first National Building Strike a year earlier. During the course of Ricky’s sentence when he refused to conform, wear prison clothing, work and suffered on hunger strike he met a sympathetic and wise prison governor who introduced prisoner Tomlinson to Tressell’s great novel.

Ricky was an immediate devotee recognising conditions and work practices in the book that reflected his own experiences. He credits The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists with changing his life and helping give articulation to his thoughts.

‘Ragged’, written by Andrew Lynch, Produced and Directed by Johnny Vegas stars Ricky as he is now with Stephen Walters playing younger Ricky of the 1970’s. Chris Fulford takes on multi-rolls representing many establishment figures Ricky came up against in prison and Philip Jackson plays the understanding, life changing Governor.

The half hour drama for Sky Arts Playhouse is the first independent programme for Johnny Vegas’s company Woolyback Productions and will be broadcast on June 6th 2013 @ 9:30pm.

Billy Bragg’s ‘Handyman Blues’

Johnny Vegas has directed an All-Star video for Billy Bragg’s ‘Handyman Blues’ single.
Featuring Kevin Eldon, Ricky Grover, Phill Jupitus, Stewart Lee, Neil Morrissey, Ross Noble, Johnny Vegas and Samuel West plus a cameo appearance from Billy Bragg and filmed in a wickes D.I.Y store!

Johnny Vegas has directed and appeared in a video for Billy Bragg’s new single ‘Handyman Blues’ (released July 15 on Cooking Vinyl) with an all-star cast of comedians and actors who are Billy Bragg fans. Johnny, a lifelong fan of Billy’s songs, recently sought out the ‘The Bard Of Barking’ for help with some music for a drama he was directing called ‘Ragged’, featuring Ricky Tomlinson. As a thank you, Johnny offered to make a video of the song he loved on Bragg’s new CD ‘Tooth & Nail’. In the song ‘Handyman Blues’, Billy laments that he is useless at DIY, but suggests that he is creative in other ways. The video, produced by Beverley Dixon of Woolyback Productions, was filmed at the Wickes D.I.Y. store in Uxbridge.

Johnny says, “It’s not every day that you get to direct a video for a genuine icon, especially one as respected and admired as Billy is”.

The Magic Faraway Tree

TX Monday 24 December 2013 at 11.30am
& Monday 31 December 2013 at 11.30am
BBC R4

Wisha, wisha, wisha.

Playfulness, soundscape and oddity above the rustling leaves of Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree.

In the centre of the Enchanted Wood is the Faraway Tree. Home to Moonface, Silky and Saucepan Man; its upper branches stretch into cloud-hosted dimensions of strange and magical lands.

In this two-part abridged adaptation of Enid Blyton’s classic children’s tale, BBC Radio 4 swoops voices from the world of entertainment into the mystical lands above.

Featuring Johnny Vegas, as Moonface, Nigel Planer as Saucepan and Lucy Beaumont (Winner of the BBC’s New Comedy Awards 2012) as Silky.

Narrator: Ronni Ancona
Rick: Billy Kennedy
Joe: Alex Clarke
Frannie: Nell Tiger Free
Beth: Tess Fontaine
Moonface: Johnny Vegas
Silky: Lucy Beaumont
Saucepan: Nigel Planer
Mother: Joanna Hall
Angry Pixie: Wayne Forrester

Written by Enid Blyton
Adapted for Radio by Andrew Lynch

Music composed and arranged by Phase Music

Directed by Johnny Vegas
Produced by Sally Harrison

A Woolyback Production for BBC Radio 4

Mr Stink

A stellar cast of Hugh Bonneville, David Walliams, Sheridan Smith, Johnny Vegas and Pudsey the dog, star in this magical, heart-warming and funny tale, adapted from David Walliams’ best-selling children’s book.

Adapted by Walliams himself with Simon Nye, this 60-minute family comedy tells the story of lonely 12-year-old Chloe (Nell Tiger Free), who invites local tramp Mr Stink (Hugh Bonneville) and his dog Duchess (Pudsey) to hide out in her family’s garden shed.

Chloe also has to cope with an over-bearing mum (Sheridan Smith) who is more interested in her own political ambitions and her infatuation with the Prime Minister (David Walliams), than her daughter. ‘Perfect’ younger sister Annabelle (Isabella Blake-Thomas) and nasty girls at school also make Chloe’s life miserable. Chloe’s only allies are her put-upon dad (Johnny Vegas) who is harbouring a secret of his own, and newsagent Raj (Harish Patel).

But Chloe soon discovers she is not the only one harbouring a secret and there is certainly more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or nose.

In addition to being broadcast in standard definition, Mr Stink will also be shown in 3D on the BBC HD channel; the first time the BBC has filmed a narrative programme in 3D.

Family comedy Mr Stink is being produced by BBC In-house Comedy Productions in association with David Walliams and his production company DEW Productions. It will be directed by Declan Lowney (Little Britain, Alan Partridge, Father Ted). It was adapted for television by David Walliams with Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly, Just William, Dr Who). The Executive Producer is Mark Freeland, Head of BBC In-house Comedy and the Producer is Jo Sargent (Miranda, Absolutely Fabulous). It was commissioned for BBC One by Danny Cohen, Controller BBC One and Cheryl Taylor, out-going Controller, Comedy Commissioning.

BBC1 – Sunday 23rd December @ 6.30pm
Repeated on Wednesday 26 December @ 4.20pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/mrstink/

The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas

The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas is a one-off animation giving a unique interpretation of the nativity story seen through the eyes of a cow called Marjorie. Marjorie is voiced by Isy Suttie, with Johnny Vegas providing the voice for a chicken called Brian.

Marjorie the cow lives in a run-down stable in the middle of Bethlehem. Nothing exciting ever happens in Bethlehem until now… there’s a census or something and there’s going to be some sort of street party – that’s what Marje has heard, anyway!

She heads into town in search of this party. Joined by a spangly leotard-wearing chicken called Brian they stop passers by but no-one seems to know where the party’s happening: not the herd of sheep who have been frogmarched into town by their shepherds who told them a new king was about to be born; not the donkey who just wants a rest after lugging his boss’s pregnant wife into town only to discover that they haven’t booked a hotel; and certainly not the camels who are being chased by Pontius Pilate’s horse guard looking for three star-gazing, wise astronomer blokes the camels have carried all the way from the eastern deserts.

Marje and Brian are fed up, lost and disappointed not to have found the party. But then Brian catches sight of the bright star the camels mentioned they were following. As they head onto the main street and into a very familiar square, they find the entire town quietly engrossed in a beautiful scene: the donkey, his carpenter boss and his wife, the three camels with their wise kings and a tiny new born baby with a little halo, quietly huddled into Marje and Brian’s family stable.

And the day ends with a cow and a chicken slightly stunned at the chosen venue – delighted they didn’t miss the party after all, but with the realization that the best place to be at Christmas is home.

The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas is a Baby Cow Animation/Komedia Entertainment production for CBeebies. Voice talent include Isy Suttie, Johnny Vegas, Miriam Margolyes, Nitin Ganatra, Simon Greenall and Daniel Laurence Taylor.

BBC1, Wednesday 19 December @ 4.30pm

Top Gear Live

See Johnny Vegas LIVE as our ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’ on Saturday 27 October.

Jeremy, James and Richard are back in an all-new Live Action Arena show, doing what they do best…arguing, shouting and crashing into each other…

Live on The Track see Johnny Vegas and other stars competing as Star in a Reasonably Priced Car*, plus The Stig will be powering around, in some very unreasonably priced cars, showing everyone just how it should be done.

All this, plus a bigger than ever exhibition, featuring an amazing Supercar Gallery, Challenge Cars from the TV show, Top Gear TV Studio mock-up, and The Cool Wall. If this wasn’t enough, you’ll also see a wide range of exhibitors and shop for a load of motoring-related goodies, so don’t forget to bring a nice big plastic bag.

Don’t miss out on this ULTIMATE Top Gear Experience!

Save £5 on Silver tickets: Quote JV21 when booking via www.topgearlive.co.uk or when you call 0871 230 5588

25-28 October @ NEC Birmingham
www.topgearlive.co.uk
@topgearliveuk

 *Johnny will be our Star in a Reasonably Priced Car in the 7.15pm performance on Saturday 27 October.

Jon Wilkin’s Testimonial 2012

Irn-Bru Comedy Night in association with Jon Wilkin’s Testimonial 2012 presents…

Johnny Vegas & Friends
Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens WA10 1LX
8pm Sunday 9th September 2012

“Pete is a legend of the lounges at Langtree park. Hilarious comedian and good friend of mine who has me and the rest of the lads in stitches after every match…not literally. A must see Act with a vast rugby knowledge.” Jon Wilkin

Celia Pacquola is Adam Hills with ovaries, using her magnetic charisma to draw audiences in to a warmly uplifting show that’s as inspiring as it is hilarious. I’d defy anyone not to leave… just a little more in love with life – and with her – than before.” Chortle.co.uk

Luke has a unique observational style, and speaks about his life with tourettes syndrome. Starred in C4′s ‘The Undateables’.
A gifted comedy star – The Daily Mail
A very funny guy – The Independent

Winner of ITV1′s ‘So You Think You’re Funny’
“Is simply the nicest person ever born. He could make you grin while punching your mother, which he would never do.” Time Out London

“I Was A Teenage Santa” Little Crackers, Sky One

Dressing up as santa claus isn’t on the to-do list of many teenage boys, but it’s the fate that befalls a 13-year-old Johnny Vegas.

When his dad drops out of fulfilling Father christmas duties at the church fayre, Johnny is forced to don the suit. The embarrassed youngster points out that St Nick is supposed to be fat and jolly and it’s pointed back that he’s halfway there. As the kids queue up, Johnny’s seasonal spirit is somewhat lacking, more ho-hum than ho ho ho. if mr vegas had the chance to do things differently, would he?

Sky One – Friday 23rd December at 9.00pm
Watch a clip of I Was A Teenage Santa

C r e d i t s
Kevin – Johnny Vegas
Young Johnny - Thomas Mills
Craig – Guy Hargreaves
Agnes – Margaret Henshaw
Hilda – Joan Kempson
Jeff – Jeffrey Longmore
Producer – Gill isles
Produced by Baby Cow Productions
Written & Directed by Johnny Vegas

Johnny Vegas And Another Thing…

Exploring the world of the home shopping TV channel, Vegas, Kevin Eldon and Emma Fryer play three members of a shopping channel team with very different attitudes, aims and aspirations. As we watch them at work behind and literally live in front of the cameras we catch a glimpse of their private and very public lives.

In a unique experiment the show is presented in ‘Theatrivision’, as Vegas and MIF team up with shopping channel Ideal World. Each performance, Vegas and his cast will be beamed live into the homes of Ideal World’s TV audience as actual shopping channel presenters selling products – live.

Audiences in the theatre will get to see both sides of these characters – their off air and their live personas. Audiences at home, watching the shopping channel, get the unexpected and entertaining experience of having Vegas and Fryer selling to them while Eldon multi-tasks as his on stage character as well as Ideal World’s ‘floor manager’.

Book your tickets here

One Night Stand with Johnny Vegas

Join Johnny Vegas as he returns home to St Helen’s for a night of amazing stand-up performances from some of the world’s top comics.

Supported by Justin Moorhouse and Seymour Mace

Thursday 30th September 2010 at The Theatre Royal, St Helens
Doors open at 7.00pm

Tickets are available here

The show will be filmed for the DAVE channel.