He’s already livened up Question Time – and now Russell Brand is set to bring his own unique spin on current affairs to BBC Newsnight in a pre-recorded interview with Jeremy Paxman. The comedian and actor- who is guest editing a special edition of The New Statesman – will discuss his desire for a revolution, a subject which sees him in typically outspoken form. ‘The planet is being destroyed, we are creating an underclass, exploiting poor people all over the world, and the genuine legitimate problems of the world are not being addressed by our political parties,’ he said in the interview. And when Paxman implied he agreed with Brand on many of his views, he retorted: ‘Then why do I feel so cross with you? It can’t be because of that beard – it’s gorgeous, grow it longer, tangle it into your armpit hair.’ Paxman went on to call him ‘a very trivial man’ – something which Brand challenged, telling him: ‘A minute ago you were having a go at me for wanting a revolution, now I’m trivial.’
The comedian caused outrage at the GQ Men Of The Year awards recently (Picture: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
Brand is of course no stranger when it comes to courting controversy, having recently stunned the audience at the GQ Men of the Year awards with his Nazi quips.
The comic’s meltdown – which involved hitting out at event sponsors Hugo Boss – came as he was collecting an award at the bash.
‘If you know a little bit about history and fashion you’ll know that Hugo Boss made the uniforms for the Nazis but you know they did look f***ing fantastic, let’s face it, while they were killing people on the basis of their religion and sexuality,’ he told the crowd, adding: ‘Genocide quips are OK.’
The full Newsnight interview will be aired on tonight’s show which begins at 10.30pm on BBC Two.
Jeremy Paxman, Russell Brand----------------------------------------------------------
