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Russell Brand ‘Rants About Comic Relief', Days After Fronting BBC Red Nose Day Telethon

Russell 'Rants About Comic Relief' Days After Fronting The Charity's Telethon
Rachel McGrath
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Russell Brand has launched a bizarre attack on Comic Relief, just days after fronting the BBC’s Red Nose Day telethon.

Russell was among the stars who presented the fund-raising coverage, but judging from his latest rant, he won’t be back for more next time around.

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Russell announced the evening's fundraising total with Lenny Henry

During his recent gig at East London venue The Proud Archivist, Russell slammed the bi-annual show, reports The Sun.

“Is it right to do Comic Relief? Plus is any f***er watching it?” he said. “Those were the questions I was asking myself as I walked out confidently on to the Palladium stage. And the answer is, ‘No, not really.’”

The comedian-turned-political activist is believed to have said that those behind Comic Relief have “good intentions”, before questioning the role charity plays in society.

“Is charity part of the problem?” he continued. “Ultimately taking responsibility away from the centralised powers of created government, corporations, and alleviating that stress and tension by placing the burden once more on ordinary people.”

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Russell Brand

This year’s Comic Relief efforts raised over £78 million for charity, taking their grand total of funds ever raised past the £1 billion mark.

The ‘Something Funny For Money’ show included a number of sketches featuring characters such as the Vicar of Dibley and Mr Bean.

David Walliams also reprised one of his most famous ‘Little Britain’ roles for a special sketch with Professor Stephen Hawking, before puckering up for a kiss with one of Hollywood’s hottest stars.

Russell Brand On Politics
Tony Blair(01 of11)
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He tricked us a bit, didn't he? Making us go to that war we shouldn't have had. (credit:PA)
David Cameron(02 of11)
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"They all go to the same parties. I have a mate who was at a party, the other night at some rich person's house, and Tony Blair and David Cameron were both there. At the same party!" (credit:Getty Images)
Ed Miliband(03 of11)
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"I think we could do better. No seriously, I do think he is really kind, and it sounds like his Dad was wicked." (credit:PA)
George Bush(04 of11)
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"At least, on a personal level he was sort of funny. I don't have a very good memory for hatred, so every time I see a picture of him now, cos he looks a bit like a monkey, I think 'aw, cute'. I forgot all the wars he started.[Brand called George Bush a 'retarded cowboy' at the MTV Awards in 2008]"I said, in America, it was nice you let him be president, because we in England we wouldn't give him a pair of scissors. And if I'd have said that in England, that's funny. "Next day in America I had police round my house because people were trying to kill me. For that!" (credit:AP)
Nick Clegg(05 of11)
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"He blagged it to the students, didn't he? Well, with all these people, they are children of God, they have a beautiful essence, but they shouldn't be doing the job they are." (credit:PA)
Boris Johnson(06 of11)
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"I love him when he was on 'Have I Got News For You', so funny. I love his hair like a little baby bird. But don't let him run a fucking city, just because he's funny." (credit:Getty Images)
Mahatma Gandhi(07 of11)
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"I like how he was serious about non-violence. It is genius because it is a paradigm breaker. If you are at protest, without being violent, they can't nick you. Also, he was a very disciplined man, and he said the only thing he hated more than violence was cowardice, so he was prepared to get the shit kicked out of him whenever required. You can't argue with that."
Margaret Thatcher(08 of11)
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She broke down our most treasured institutions, drove a knife through the socialist heart of this country, ripped up the North, made our kids think it was OK to be selfish, got everyone to sell off their council houses. It was a terrible, terrible thing. (credit:PA)
Barack Obama(09 of11)
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"It's a shame, I felt pumped for a while [after he was elected]. I thought it was better to have a black president than a white one, moving in the right direction. But it is a shame. These people are meaningless, interchangeable. It's not much different in America now, but I prefer him to Bush." (credit:AP)
Edward Snowden (10 of11)
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"Wicked, man, well done! What defines a hero, if not someone willing to sacrifice themselve for others? We will all do it for those who love most"Private Manning and Edward Snowden, put themselves in stir, for rest of the lives because they believe in something. You can't argue with that. People who are prepared to put themselves inside." (credit:AP)
Bashar Assad(11 of11)
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"I don't know who that is."[The President of Syria]"Um, I am not sure about that, he seems a little slippery, I am not into his whistles, but I don't know very much. And it seems like others don't know much either. All I know is when I see those images coming out of Syria, it's terrible. You do want to help, but it has to be refugees, humanitarian stuff, not starting more wars or arming folks." (credit:AP)

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