Ideal: Starring Johnny Vegas – Review

The 90’s and noughties was a golden age for television comedy. Looking back, it’s hard to believe Father Ted, The Day Today, Knowing Me Knowing You, Big Train, The Fast Show, League of Gentlemen, Smack the Pony, The Mighty Boosh, Brass Eye, and The Office, all came one after another. This was a time when commissioning editors – particularly the BBC – were willing to take a risk on performers with stand up experience but little TV exposure (it’s hard to imagine the timid, scared-to-offend Beeb doing this in 2025).

Arriving in the tail wind of those shows was Ideal, a Salford sitcom about the adventures of Moz, a hapless, well meaning weed dealer. Written by Graham Duff, it was designed as a vehicle for one Johnny Vegas (alter ego of former pottery student, Michael Pennington).

The role of Moz fit Vegas like a glove. Forced to follow a script, there was no opportunity for self indulgent tangents (and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in this role). Twenty years after series 1, here comes the anniversary show. The programme notes argue otherwise, but this is perhaps one for the fans. Or at least people who’ve seen a couple of episodes; the opening night audience greeted the arrival of each returning cast member with a loud whoop of delight.

Rather than recycle material from the original 53 episodes, Duff has come up with an entirely new story. The main plot involves Moz treading carefully around his young, sexy but insanely jealous girlfriend Liza (Lucy Farrett); difficult given Moz has enjoyed past relationships with all of his female friends. There’s also Moz’s bestie, Colin (Ben Crompton), fresh out of prison but unsure if this freedom lark is all its cracked up to be.

The sub plot focuses on Moz’s ‘associates’, Psycho Paul, and the bizarre Cartoon Head (who hides his face behind a mouse like mask), both of whom are embarking on a new business venture as body disposal specialists. Soon, there are two corpses to deal with, one of them in Moz’s bedroom. It’s like Poirot on Skunk, including a séance scene where the characters commune with the deceased to try and identify the murderer.

Speaking openly about the series, Vegas said he experienced major self doubt when the rest of the actors arrived, feeling he was out of their league (an understandable but invalid fear). Every character is a nuanced creation, with not a single weak link in the cast.  Ryan Pope is superb as Psycho Paul, projecting an air of comic menace through posture and a shell suit. Joanna Neary’s daffy, middle aged Goth gets the biggest laugh of the evening when she accidentally takes three ecstasy tablets. But it’s Emma Fryer as femme fatale Tania, who threatens to steal the show. There are so many layers to Tania, it’s difficult to know where to begin. She’s romantic and treacherous, but doesn’t see anything wrong with her casual cruelty; Fryer’s impeccable, sing song accent is something that should probably inspire a thousand drag tributes. Give this woman a spin off, pronto.

Writer Graham Duff not only plays waspish neighbour Brian, (naturally he gets a lot of the best lines) he has also chosen to direct. Which isn’t a disaster but an experienced pair of hands would have added more polish. The functional living room set boxes off most of the Lowry stage, limiting movement. The scene changes are lumbering, and the lighting changes sloppy. The microphone pops which burst randomly over the PA are irritating. But these minor errors can be easily ironed out during the upcoming tour. Duff introduces a couple of hallucinations into Act 2, which are visually memorable.

Is this a play, or a sitcom on stage? It doesn’t really matter because Ideal is a huge amount of fun – whether you’re stoned or straight.  

Ideal: Starring Johnny Vegas is at Lowry, Salford from 9 – 13 September 2025.