Johnny Vegas accused of 'kissing and groping' young woman on stage as details of 'disgusting' 2008 gig re-emerge

Published: 12:07 EST, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 12:46 EST, 12 November 2026 Comedian Johnny Vegas was accused of kissing and groping a young woman on stage as details of a 'disgusting' gig from 18 years ago re-emerged. Vegas, 56, is alleged to have got the woman, said to be aged 18 or 19, onto the stage during a set at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London.Journalist Mary O'Hara wrote at the time that Vegas proceeded to kiss and grope the woman on stage, saying it left her 'disgusted'. At the time, representatives for Vegas maintained the segment was consensual audience participation and the woman had willingly taken part.She described how the 'nervous' girl was carried on stage by six audience members – described as 'pallbearers' – and told to lie still.She wrote that Vegas crouched down beside the girl 'while repeatedly saying, "don't f***ing move." Then he ran his hand up her leg and began pulling her skirt up. 'Every time he looked up to address the audience, she would reach down and pull her skirt back down, but he kept pulling it back up.'Ms O'Hara went on: 'The more the young woman was groped, the more anxious one of the "pallbearers" looked. Then Vegas straddled the young woman, pinning her to the floor, and kissing her for quite a while.' Ms O'Hara said that 'around half' of the audience laughed along, and that Vegas then asked if the stage curtain could be put down. Vegas, 55, is alleged to have got the woman, said to be aged 18 or 19, onto the stage during a set at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London before kissing ad groping her Journalist Mary O'Hara wrote at the time that Vegas proceeded to kiss the woman on stage before allegedly performing a sex act on her, saying it left her 'disgusted' When it wasn't, comedian Simon Munnery, who had been on stage before Vegas, is said to have come onto the stage with a coat, which he used to shield the couple from view. The allegation has re-emerged after Russell Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault, and the publication of an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct involving David Walliams.At the time of Ms O'Hara's writing, Vegas launched legal proceedings against publisher The Guardian.The newspaper later amended the article to say that Vegas's lawyers 'have been in contact with the young woman from the audience' who reportedly told them she 'went along with the joke willingly and did not feel intimidated, scared or abused'.There were complaints following the gig on the NOTBBC forum, with one attendee writing: 'I don't like to think that any area is out of bounds for comedy, even if the comedy is lazy nonsense (which on this occasion, I think it mostly was) - but that really only applies when you're talking about words and ideas. 'Once you've got someone pinned down on the stage, it becomes a rather different matter. I honestly don't know what to think. Really, did no one else see it?'Renewed scrutiny of the entertainment industry and its treatment of women has exploded this week after convicted rapist Brand, 51, was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison for one count of rape and three sexual assaults.Then on Tuesday, The Guardian and ITN published a series of allegations about comic and writer David Walliams. The allegations, dating back to 2003, include that Walliams 'groomed' teenagers as young as 15 in a bid to have sex with them. He denies the claims and said he is not a 'sexual predator'. Vegas, who is also an actor, has stepped away from stand-up in recent years to focus on other projects.The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Vegas for comment. Have YOU got a story? Email elizabeth.haigh@dailymail.co.uk