Johnny Vegas says he’d have gone into ceramics if he’d not done stand-up

• Johnny Vegas, the comedian and actor, has expressed regret over sidelining his passion for ceramics to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and acting.
• Vegas, real name Michael Joseph Pennington, studied ceramics at Middlesex University but turned to comedy in the Nineties after being disappointed with his degree results.
• He felt that not focusing on ceramics full time made him lose his creative edge, leading him to believe he had 'cheated himself' by neglecting his artistic pursuits.
• Rediscovering art later in life provided Vegas with a new sense of purpose, as highlighted in his Channel 4 documentary 'Art, ADHD & Me' and recent exhibitions.
• Vegas, who was diagnosed with ADHD at 52, credits ceramics and art with helping him manage his condition and understand his behavioural patterns.

IN FULL

Johnny Vegas expresses regret over showbiz career: ‘I’ve cheated myself’