Russell Brand

The Amnesty International Comedy Podcast: Episode 1

Russell Brand, John Cleese, Fred MacAulay, Rob Rouse and Danielle Ward all exercise their right to freedom of expression on the inaugural Amnesty International Comedy Podcast. Expect Vaseline on the nipples, hair ruffling and bottom patting.

It would make an interesting study to count how many times the BBC has used the once-fashionable word "edgy" to describe a comedy programme in the 18 months since the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand "Sachsgate" row touched ground. My bet is that you'd be able to count the instances on one hand. Instead, the Corporation has taken to producing industrial volumes of feel-good, night-out-with-your-mates-style comedy. This new bright and breezy entertainment show, hosted by Liverpudlian stand-up John Bishop, is a case in point. Bishop takes on a different theme in each of the series's six episodes - family, growing up, holidays, etc - and gives it a stand-up treatment, interspersed with contributions from celebrity guests, cheaply produced sketches and interviews with the general public. Puzzlingly, no specific information about tonight's first episode was available at the time of going to press, but I was able to watch a taster DVD for the series in which Bishop discussed the pros and cons of love and marriage in front of a studio audience. It was funny, in an easy, unchallenging sort of a way - and about as edgy as a Victoria sponge.

So this is it. The end. The final curtain. The last ever Friday Night with Jonathan Ross after nearly ten years on BBC1. Ross was always an acquired taste; his blokey, jokey style was too smut-centric for some, while others thought him edgy and funny. None of that matters now, of course. Ross was all too willing to assist in the implosion of his BBC career when he and Russell Brand Went Too Far and left mucky messages on a blameless Andrew Sachs's answering machine during Brand's Radio 2 show. The reaction was ridiculously overblown - the sky didn't fall in - but it was the kind of national convulsion that could end only, eventually, with Ross's departure. Tonight's final guests are David Beckham, Jackie Chan, Mickey Rourke and Roxy Music.

Katy Perry's album 'inspired' by partner Russell Brand

Katy Perry says her fiance Russell Brand has had a big impact on the direction of her second album, Teenage Dream.

Russell Brand sports silly fake beard

Looks like Russell Brand is missing his facial hair - the funnyman wore a fake beard as he filmed his new movie Arthur.

Where was Russell Brand on Jonathan Ross?

After a no-show on Ross's last ever BBC chat show, does this mean Russell Brand has put his bawdy days behind him?

There was a time, a few years ago, when it seemed that we would never see or hear the end of Russell Brand: TV channels, radio schedules and newspapers jostled with his loud-mouthed, risqué and occasionally funny presence on a near-daily basis. But then, in October 2008, the "Sachsgate" scandal hit and his broadcasting career on this side of the pond more or less dried up. This energetically confrontational stand-up show, recorded last year in London, marks a return of sorts to British TV, with topics including his disastrous hosting of the MTV Video Awards, his film career and the media scrum that engulfed him during "Sachsgate".

Russell Brand to have US radio show

Russell Brand is being lined up to host his own radio show in America.

Jonathan Ross books Beckham for his final BBC show

Jonathan Ross is going out with a bang - after booking David Beckham as his final chat show guest at the Beeb. He called on Golden Balls after humourless BBC1 chiefs banned him from bringing on controversial pal Russell Brand. The host has also lined up actor Jackie Chan and singers Prince and Tom Jones.

Jonathan Ross uses Twitter to shout at the People

Jonathan Ross was all a-twitter yesterday over a Sunday newspaper story about him and his mate Russell Brand.