Russell Brand stands up for risqué comedy

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 19:07

CONTROVERSIAL comic Russell Brand said he would never tone down his comedy routine and was not afraid of censure.

As hundreds of fans flocked to a DVD signing session in London yesterday, Brand leapt to the defence of fellow stand-ups Jimmy Carr and Frankie Boyle, who were criticised recently for offensive routines.

"Frankie Boyle is brilliant and Jimmy Carr is brilliant," he said. "They're not trying to be offensive, no-one is actually offended, the people saying they're offended aren't actually offended, the whole thing is constructed."

He added: "If you hear it (the joke] delivered cold, like vomit into the nape of your neck, it might be offensive, but mucking around I don't think is offensive."

Last year, Brand resigned from his job at BBC Radio 2 after a scandal surrounding a series of lewd messages he left on actor Andrew Sachs' answer phone. But he insists "Manuel-gate", as Brand prefers to call it, was just "rhubarb and guff" and he would do the same again.

"I would've done nothing differently. I apologise for the thing I did wrong to the person I did it to, but the whole subsequent scandal was funny. It's just rhubarb and guff."

And he vowed never to tone down his own material for fear of further censure: "I will not lose my edge."

The star, 34, insisted he will not be quitting London for Hollywood, despite putting his Hampstead home up for sale. His girlfriend, singer Katy Perry, lives in Los Angeles and the pair were reportedly looking for a home in Hollywood.

But Brand said: "I'm not moving to America, I will sometimes go there. I have to go there to make films."

He added: "We do make films in England, but it's more like a hobby. They're like 'Come along, we can make a film. Oh, and can you make the sandwiches?'"