British Comedy Guide

Johnny Vegas to star in Ideal stage show

Thursday 14th November 2024, 11:14am

Ideal. Johnny Vegas. Credit: Andy Hollingworth
  • BBC sitcom Ideal is to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new stage show at The Lowry in Salford in September 2025
  • Written by creator Graham Duff, the show will see Moz, Psycho Paul and Cartoon Head attempting to dispose of a dead body
  • Star Johnny Vegas says: "Fans of Ideal will absolutely love the stage show, which is full of laugh-out-loud moments and bizarre twists and turns"

A 20th anniversary theatre show linked to BBC sitcom Ideal/g] is to launch in Salford in September 2025, with Johnny Vegas reprising his role as Moz.

Ideal, which followed a small-time drug dealer, launched on BBC Three in January 2005. One of the most popular sitcoms of the 2000s, it ran for 53 episodes across seven series. All the episodes were recently added to BBC iPlayer

Talking about the new plans, the producers confirm: "The multi-award winning BBC TV sitcom Ideal will transfer from screen to stage, with a special 20th anniversary theatre show. Created by the team behind the original hit TV series, the hilarious Ideal live show will be premiering at Lowry, Salford, in 2025, with a six night run, kicking off on September 8th.

Ideal. Johnny Vegas. Credit: Andy Hollingworth

"Johnny Vegas reprises his role as Moz: Manchester's longest serving weed dealer, in a 'dope opera' of epic proportions. Featuring many of the beloved, long running BBC TV comedy's most iconic characters and actors, the Ideal live show is dark, surreal and laugh out loud funny.

"Fans of the show will not be disappointed, as Ideal's most memorable characters reunite for this unmissable live tale. And for those just discovering Ideal, thanks to all seven series recently dropping on BBC iPlayer, it's a chance to get to know the wild world of Moz and friends up close and personal."

Ideal. Johnny Vegas. Credit: Andy Hollingworth

The plot for the new show, which has been written by creator Graham Duff, is described as follows: "Moz, and gangsters Psycho Paul and Cartoon Head must dispose of a dead body. But when they discover priceless diamonds inside the corpse, things spin out of control. Can they stop Cartoon Head from going on a killing spree? Will big gay Brian find true love? And can Moz survive the strangest night of his life?"

Johnny Vegas says: "Moz is back and he's more chaotic than ever. Fans of Ideal will absolutely love the stage show, which is full of laugh-out-loud moments and bizarre twists and turns. It's amazing to be able to breathe new life into the series and once again be stepping into the shoes of one of Manchester's most well-known weed dealers. You'd be a fool to miss it!"


Tickets will be on sale from the Lowry website from Friday 15th November.

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