Russell Brand
As well as hosting a fabulous hour of fantastic comedy, Russell also takes part in a sketch featuring a support group trying to help reform hecklers.
Published: 14 March 2017
When I was a kid and Comic Relief was on it seemed really chaotic and like mad things were going to happen. I liked it when Billy Connolly was running around in the nude. I remember watching Sir Lenny Henry in the very early days in lairy suits and really enjoying that.
What is your favourite Comic Relief memory either from a past fundraising event that you’ve done or a memorable moment from watching the night of TV?
When I was a kid and Comic Relief was on it seemed really chaotic and like mad things were going to happen. I liked it when Billy Connolly was running around in the nude. I remember watching Sir Lenny Henry in the very early days in lairy suits and really enjoying that. I remember Rowan Atkinson doing his school headmaster sketch for Comic Relief where he did all of the different names when he did the register.
I think fundraising stuff went on at our school but I wasn’t really a joiner in at school so I don’t remember ever having to be in a bath of beans or gunk. I do remember thinking "ah this isn’t proper school any more that’s good" - it was sort of a side step from bunking off.
What are you most looking forward to on this year’s night of TV?
I’m looking forward to hosting this bit that I’m hosting because there will be lots of new acts and apparently I’m going to walk around and talk simultaneously in the studio – a challenge for anyone.
It’s going to be in a comedy club environment for the first time ever so the whole night will feel more like a stand up comedy venue. Is that an exciting thing to look forward to, and are there any nerves at all about the fact you’re going to be live and doing your thing?
I think that will be brilliant, I will be nervous but I think it will be thoroughly enjoyable.
Do you have any kind of pre-performance routine?
Yes I do, I quieten myself right down and try and think about giving people a thoroughly entertaining time, usually in the lavvie. No superstitions like footballer superstitions but rituals which are the sort of bed fellows of superstition or the more sacred – well a sacred superstition is a ritual but they’re not things like turn around three times and balance something on my head, it’s all just make sure I’m lined up.
