ST Helens comedian and actor Johnny Vegas appeared on ITV's This Morning to urge people across the nation to hold coffee mornings next Friday, September 28 in aid of Macmillan.

Johnny, whose real name is Michael Pennington, is originally from Thatto Heath and opened up after his dad Laurennce 'Lol' Pennington's death to cancer at Willowbrook Hospice on March 10 2017, aged 85.

The 48-year-old appeared on the show with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on Monday, September 17 where he shared his story of working through the grief following his dad's death and the great work done by Macmillan staff.

He is urging others to support the cancer support charity on Friday, September 28 for the World's Biggest Coffee Morning.

He said: "I always understood what they did but on a personal level when my dad fell ill and we realised he was terminally ill, as a family it hit us really hard.

"We needed someone to come in and help us process what was going to happen and what was going on.

"We went into a tailspin, so I thank god that Macmillan came in."

He added how the experience of losing his dad has also encouraged him to focus on his own health for the sake of his two sons, Michael and Tom.

He added: "People don't think they are making a big difference, but the average coffee morning raises £250 which pays for a nurse for a day."

For more information on Macmillan Coffee Mornings and to sign up to take part visit coffee.macmillan.org.uk.

To watch the clip with Johnny visit itv.com/hub/this-morning/1a1960a5883