British comedian Johnny Vegas is to make his first feature film, it was announced at Cannes over the weekend.
Vegas, who has won many awards for his stand up comedy, but is probably best known for his work in adverts for the ill-starred ITV Digital, will appear in a new British film entitled The Virgin of Liverpool. The film tells the tale of a 12-year-old girl's battle to save a statue from being destroyed.
According to the BBC, Vegas will appear alongside Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, currently in Cannes promoting Once Upon a Time in the Midlands.
Vegas, whose real name is Michael Pennington, began his comedy career in the working men's clubs around St Helen's in Lancashire. He won the critic's prize at the Edinburgh Festival in 1997 and became a household name after appearing in the ITV Digital adverts with his sidekick Monkey.
The film's producers are hoping for British hit to rival The Full Monty and Billy Elliot. Production is due to start later on this summer.
