You ask the questions

(Such as, Johnny Vegas: any major injuries sustained dancing on the potter's wheel?)

COMEDIAN MICHAEL Pennington, 28, grew up in St Helens, Merseyside, where he still lives. In 1997, he won the Festival Critics' Award at the Edinburgh Festival with his comic persona, Johnny Vegas. His miserablist comedy is notable for its Butlin's-style singalongs and live pottery demonstrations. He will be appearing at this year's Edinburgh Festival with his new show, Happy Days are Here Again, and begins his second tour in September.

Which bits of Johnny Vegas are based on Michael Pennington?

Sarah Cable by e-mail

All the physical features, for a start, including the stale beer breath and bad body-odour. His drinking, lack of drive and ability to blame everyone else for his downfalls are similar. It's just his way with the ladies and naked aggression that's fabricated, as Mike Pennington is a wimp reviled by all woman-kind. Myself and Johnny are frighten- ingly similar.

Where does your inspiration for the failed potter and former Butlin's Redcoat stem from?

Judy Hanning, Chiswick, London

I studied pottery for four years, enduring a total state of enforced ceramic celibacy, only to graduate with the lowest grade in my group. Fear of constant failure led to my fantasising about life as a Redcoat - the happiest people I could ever recall from my childhood, and the symbol in showbusiness for all-round entertainment expertise, eg Shane Richie.

What was your worst experience on stage?

Helen Kline, Newcastle

In Edinburgh's "So You Think You're Funny" competition in 1995, I forgot me name, me act and ended up reading out a letter off me mum and doing a poor impersonation of Jimmy Cricket. How much lower can you sink in satire?

Also, playing a tune on my nose at 7am to a crowd of angry scousers on The Big Breakfast's Eggs on Legs Talent Contest. (I did that after getting a garbled message that left me thinking they wanted me as a replacement for Chris Evans.) PS: I lost to an eight-year-old magician.

Is pottery really the new rock'n'roll?

David Willow, Buckingham

Not as long as the Fine Art Institute continues to look down their noses at us and instill in our children that making an ashtray at school means you have just about covered every conceivable creative avenue in crockery.

Favourite T-shirt?

Gavin Underwood, Cardiff

I can't make that decision until I've secured a sponsor for my next tour, but when I do, it will probably be any branded freebie that I would happily wear (to photoshoots or TV interviews). I've got a favourite T-shirt from the US, a work-shirt with "Stan the Tyre Man" on it and a name-badge, "FLACO" (sarcastic Spanish for skinny). It makes me look like a pro-darts player - mmm, swanky.

How do you cope with fame?

Liz Denning by e-mail

I have a range of disguises based on the cast of Hollyoaks that I put on when I'm going out and don't want to be pestered. I live in St Helens, and my home town is populated by the best people around, always willing to act as ego police if I get too uppity. Most importantly, I stay drunk enough to let the most important career opportunities slip through my fingers, stopping the problem of fame from ever arising in the first place.

You focus much of your sketch on Johnny's miserable childhood. What was yours like?

Fred Cooper, Hull

My childhood was actually very happy - a lot like the Waltons but without the scenery, and we didn't have a cow or a mule, and neither of my older brothers kept a journal of our poor but happy existence. They just drank a lot and started fights so we always went to bed without saying goodnight. But in many ways, we were similar... my dad worked with wood.

Any major injuries on stage? I remember an amazing dance you did on the potter's wheel.

Clarissa Keeling, Oxford

I ended my 1997 Balls of Clay tour with a cast on my right leg and torn cartilage in my left knee, and had to do my subsequent gigs from a specially adapted zimmer frame. With a list of injuries too long to go into in full detail, my insurance company refused to cover my latest idea - stunt ceramics. Now I'll never get to be the light-entertainment equivalent of Evel Knievel.

Do you have any good memories of the school playground?

Jenny Jason by e-mail

No. I was the wimp who tried to stay in the library at dinner- and playtimes because I was bad at football and tired easily of constant beatings... Ooh, just remembered. There's one. Following Mrs Powell around the infants' school. We were too young to know what sexy was, but we somehow knew that she embodied it!

Would you ever consider forming a comedy partnership?

Lara Brown, Brighton

Considering my opinions about comics, and the fact that I drink too much, it's highly unlikely... however, I would like a canine comedy partner (like Schnorbitz), one who would put up with my drunken mood swings and boring conversation. But since word got out that my dad killed (and I then ate) my pet rabbit, the RSPCA ban on keeping animals has put a stop to that.

Is it true that most comedians are depressed most of the time?

Keith Rutterland, Norfolk

I think they prefer to call it thoughtful, but yes, you're right. They're all depressive, self-centred, sarcastic sods, but I'm an entertainer and an alcoholic - I can't help meself. They just do it to appear deep and sensitive to the fairer sex.

Next Week

film director and novelist Ken Russell, followed by actor and writer Stephen Fry

SEND YOUR questions to: You Ask the Questions, Features, The Independent, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DL (fax: 0171-293 2182, e-mail: yourquestions@ independent.co.uk), by noon on Friday. The question we like best will win the sender a bottle of champagne.