Currently in the middle of his "Walking Back To Happiness" tour in Britain, the potter-turned-comedian Johnny Vegas (left) takes a detour to Ireland this week for a series of dates. Life ain't been that good for the entertainer from St Helens - teased as a child for his interest in ceramics and shunned later on by his art school colleagues who looked down on his mere pottery, Vegas ended up as a Butlin's Red Coat. It was there he learnt about the "old skool" entertainment tricks - sing-alongs etc - that form the basis of his act today. The Potter with the Perm plays Cleere's Theatre, Kilkenny, next Tuesday and Wednesday; the GPO, Galway next Thursday; and Andrew's Lane Theatre next Friday and Saturday nights.