Genre | Comedy, Talk |
---|---|
Running time | 180 minutes (BBC Radio 6 Music, XFM) 120 minutes (BBC Radio 2, Radio X) 60 minutes (talkSPORT) |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Language(s) | English |
Home station | BBC Radio 6 Music (2006) BBC Radio 2 (2006–2008) Talksport (2010) XFM (2013) Radio X (2017) |
Syndicates | 2006–2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 |
Hosted by | Russell Brand Matt Morgan Trevor Lock (2006–2007) Karl Pilkington (2006) |
Produced by | Nic Philps Paul Sheehan |
Original release | 9 April 2006 – 2 December 2017 |
No. of episodes | 126 |
Audio format | Stereophonic sound |
The Russell Brand Show was a radio show first broadcast in 2006 on BBC Radio 6 Music and later on BBC Radio 2, TalkSport, XFM and finally Radio X in 2017. The show's host was English comedian Russell Brand, who was usually joined by co-host and long-term friend Matt Morgan, as well as the show's poet laureate, Greg "Mr Gee" Sekweyama. The show also featured regular contributions from English musician Noel Gallagher, who was described as an unofficial co-host.
The Russell Brand Show was originally broadcast from 2006 to 2007 on BBC Radio 6 Music on Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm. After gaining popularity, the show moved to BBC Radio 2 in 2007, retitled Russell Brand and broadcast on Saturdays from 9 pm to 11 pm. In October 2008, Brand resigned from the BBC after a prank call on the show with presenter Jonathan Ross to Andrew Sachs resulted in over 30,000 complaints and a £150,000 fine to the BBC, ending the show's run on the BBC and effectively sending the show into a hiatus. In October 2010, nearly two years since Brand's resignation from the BBC, the renamed The Russell Brand Radio Show returned for a few weeks on Talksport, featuring Brand, Morgan and Mr Gee.
In December 2005, Brand filled in for Nemone with co-presenter Karl Pilkington for three radio shows on BBC Radio 6 Music. In April 2006, Brand was given a regular Sunday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot on the station. Pilkington was advertised as being his co-host and appeared with him on the first show, but thereafter Brand's long-term contributor Matt Morgan and comedian Trevor Lock (who left in March 2007 to start his own radio show) filled the role. Brand's 6Music radio show was ranked as high as number 2 in the iTunes most-subscribed-podcast chart.
The BBC Radio 6 Music shows would usually take on a different theme each week. For instance, one week the theme was "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" Lock would tell stories of being caught accidentally drowning a rodent by a vicar, while on the "Lies" themed show Brand would talk about pouring Jif round his bathroom and telling his mother it had come out when trying to urinate. The trio would regularly tease one another about these absurd and hilarious anecdotes. There would be an almost weekly item where Brand would read out a made-up story from the tabloids about his private life. A constant source of fascination and frustration was "Trevor's Sonic Enigma", which was later renamed "Trevor Done A Noise" by Brand and Morgan. This was meant to be a short clip of sound effects and voices (all done by Lock) meant to suggest the title of a song. These enigmas were notable for being misleading and confusing as well as very long, winners were invited to join the presenters in the studio the next week. The other item was "Challenge Trevor" in which Lock was set a list of undesirable challenges by the listeners. These went from eating lemons to serenading Noel Gallagher with an Oasis song in Lock's Elvis Presley voice.
The show was transferred to BBC Radio 2, the UK's most popular radio station, from Saturday 18 November 2006 in the 9 –11 p.m. timeslot. [1] The Radio 2 controller at the time, Lesley Douglas, who was also the controller of 6Music, said "Russell established himself as a genuine radio talent on 6 Music and has done a brilliant job there. Radio 2 gives him a fresh challenge, and a new audience. He proved a hit with Radio 2 listeners when he stood in for Mark Radcliffe earlier this year". [2]
In October 2006, BBC announced a 40% rise in listeners to BBC digital radio, which they claimed was largely attributed to Brand and his show. According to industry ratings body RAJAR, the station was attracting over 400,000 listeners. [3] Because of Brand's work in movies and stand-up, the show had to be broadcast from locations away from the radio station. It was recorded in Hawaii for 3 months in 2007 while Brand was filming Forgetting Sarah Marshall and from Los Angeles on several occasions in 2008, with Matt and Mr. Gee remaining in London. In May 2008 Matt joined Russell in L.A. in order to pursue opportunities within the film industry, in particular with writing. When Brand was on holiday, the BBC sometimes aired a "best bits" programme and sometimes had an alternative show with another presenter, usually Lauren Laverne. In the absence of Matt Morgan during the last few weeks of the show in September–October 2008, the following acted as guest presenters alongside Brand: Simon Amstell, Noel Gallagher, Alan Carr, David Baddiel and Jonathan Ross. On 31 May 2008 show, Brand announced that the programme was now produced by Vanity Projects, the production company that he owns and has been part of with many of his previous TV shows.
Due to The Russell Brand Show prank calls, Brand resigned from the show on 29 October 2008, and released the following statement:
I have apologised to Andrew Sachs for the rude messages I left on October 18 and he has graciously accepted.
As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show.
I've loved working for the BBC and am very proud of the shows myself, Matt Morgan, Nic Philps, Mr Gee and Noel Gallagher have made and I apologise to all of them for damaging their careers – except Noel, whose band are doing quite well.
I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that at the core of the rude comments and silly songs were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big hearted young woman.
Apologies are also owed to the loyal listeners of the show who enjoyed its shambolic spirit and anarchy and will be upset that it cannot continue.
I take complete responsibility and offer nothing but love and contrition and I hope that now Jonathan and the BBC will endure less forensic wrath.
Hare Krishna. [4]
Lesley Douglas, who had brought Brand to BBC Radio 2, resigned as a result of the controversy saying, "The events of the last two weeks happened on my watch. I believe it is right that I take responsibility for what has happened." [5]
After hosting a one-off football show with Noel Gallagher Brand returned to Talksport on 9 October 2010, with a Saturday night show that lasted 20 weeks. The show featured clips and back-stage recordings from his Booky Wook 2 promotional tour. Brand was joined by a host of guests, including Noel Gallagher and Jonathan Ross. [6]
On 18 March 2013, Brand returned to radio on Xfm with his old co-host, Matt Morgan, for a one-off special in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. They were joined by Noel Gallagher, Noel Fielding and Mr Gee with Trevor Lock and David Icke phoning in as guests. [7]
Brand announced on 30 March 2017 edition of The Chris Moyles Show he would return to radio, beginning on 2 April 2017 he began hosting the 11 am –1 pm slot on Sunday with Matt Morgan and Mr Gee. [8] However, from January 2018 the show was put on semi-permanent hiatus as Brand concentrated on other work. Its slot was initially replaced by Danny Wallace's Important Broadcast. On "The Matt Morgan Podcast" in 2020, Matt Morgan and Mr Gee discussed the shows hiatus from Radio X being down to Russell "not wanting to continue" the show any longer.
The radio show often features a phone call to, or appearance by, Noel Gallagher of Oasis. Other celebrities are also frequently featured, and there is discussions revolving around listeners' emails, text messages or phone calls. The music on the show was decided by the hosts and because of Brand's admiration for him, songs by Morrissey or The Smiths were often played.
In March 2008 the show was exposed for faking a competition in April 2006 when the show was broadcasting on BBC Radio 6 Music. [9] The show was broadcast on 9 April 2006 in which listeners were invited to take part in a competition via text message. The show gave the impression that it was broadcasting live but it was actually a pre-recorded show. There was an apology issued the following show to explain the mistake to fans. BBC 6 Music later gave an apology and offered listeners who entered the competition compensation for the cost of the text message. [10]
In a show recorded on 16 October 2008 and broadcast two days later, Brand made several phone calls, along with guest Jonathan Ross, to actor Andrew Sachs' home, stating that he had had sexual relations with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie, along with further apparently lewd suggestions. Sachs was apparently "deeply upset" by the calls, and denied having given permission for them to be broadcast. Brand and the BBC later apologised for the incident. [11] Both Brand and Ross were suspended by the BBC pending an investigation [12] The broadcast regulator Ofcom announced they would also be conducting an investigation. The BBC originally only received a few complaints but after the involvement of the tabloids the BBC received 30,500 complaints by Thursday morning, 30 October 2008. [13]
When the show was broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music, Brand's show was downloaded 140,000 times in September 2006, the only programme from a digital station to appear in the BBC's top 10 podcasts. [2]
In January 2007, the show reached the number one spot on the iTunes podcast charts and held that position until April 2007 when it was overtaken by The Apprentice podcast and continued to go up and down the charts prompting Brand to start a campaign to get it back to number 1 by promising that he and Morgan would rent an ice cream van and travel the country giving out free ice cream. This eventually succeeded, and on 1 September 2007, the show was broadcast live from an ice cream van on Blackpool promenade. The podcast regularly topped the charts and whenever it slumped Brand reminded listeners to continue to download the programme and increase its standing.
After the public outcry regarding the Andrew Sachs controversy, the 18 October broadcast was removed from iTunes. At the time of Brand's resignation, the podcast was at number one on the iTunes UK podcast charts. Parts of this radio show are available to buy on a CD called "Russell Brand – The Best Of What's Legal". But all the podcasts in their entirety are available to download on media-sharing sites.
"Viddycasts" began on 14 June 2008 show and consist of footage filmed before, during and after the show. Since Radio 2 launched their new-styled website, the Viddycasts are no longer available from the BBC. Instead they can be seen on YouTube.
Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | .net Awards | Podcast of the Year | Won [14] |
2008 | NME Awards | Best Radio Show | Nominated [15] |
2008 | Sony Radio Academy Awards | Entertainment award | Won [16] |
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Gallagher is one of the most successful songwriters in British music history, as the writer of eight UK number-one singles and co-writer of a further number one, as well as the sole or primary writer of ten UK number-one studio albums. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential songwriters in the history of British rock music, cited by numerous major subsequent artists as an influence.
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Throughout his career he has largely presented for London's regional radio and television.
XFM Scotland was a regional radio station broadcasting to Scotland's Central Belt, an area surrounding the two cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The station changed format to join the Galaxy Network on 8 November 2008 as Galaxy Scotland.
David Robert Berry is a British TV and radio presenter. Berry currently hosts the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show, every weekday from 6am. He previously presented The Capital Breakfast Show from 2012 until 2017, alongside Lisa Snowdon, George Shelley and Lilah Parsons.
Jon Holmes is a British comedian, writer, presenter and broadcaster. His work includes The Skewer,The Now Show, Listen Against, along with both music and spoken word radio. He has also appeared on television.
The Chris Moyles Show is the title given to two differing versions of a radio programme hosted by Chris Moyles, originally broadcast as Radio 1 Breakfast from 5 January 2004 to 14 September 2012, before transferring three years later on 21 September 2015 to the Global Radio-owned commercial radio station Radio X. The show is broadcast between 6:30 and 10:00 each weekday.
Russell Edward Brand is an English podcaster and media personality. He established himself as a standup comedian and radio host before becoming a film actor. After beginning his career as a comedian and later becoming an MTV presenter in the UK, in 2004 Brand gained a role as the host of the television show Big Brother's Big Mouth, a Big Brother spin-off. He had his first major film role in British comedy St Trinian's (2007) before starring in the Hollywood comedies Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Arthur (2011), and Rock of Ages (2012). He has released several stand-up specials including Scandalous (2009), Messiah Complex (2013), and Brandemic (2023). He hosted his own radio show The Russell Brand Show and also hosts the podcasts Stay Free with Russell Brand and Under the Skin with Russell Brand. He has received three British Comedy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award. Over the course of his career, Brand has been the subject of frequent media coverage for issues such as his promiscuity, drug use, political views, provocative behaviour at various award ceremonies, his dismissal from MTV, and his resignation from the BBC amid a prank call controversy.
XFM Manchester was an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting alternative and indie music to Manchester in North West England.
Radio X is a British national commercial radio station focused on alternative music, primarily indie rock, and owned by Global. The station launched in 1989 as a pirate radio station named Q102, before being renamed Xfm in 1992. The station became a legally licensed London-wide station in 1997, and in 2015 began national broadcasting under the name Radio X.
Scott Mills was a British radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 1 from 2004 to 2022. It was hosted by Scott Mills, with contributions from Chris Stark. Other contributors have included Mark Chapman, Laura Sayers, and Beccy Huxtable, the last of whom left the show in 2013.
The Ricky Gervais Show is a comedy radio show in the United Kingdom starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington, later adapted into a podcast and a television series. Although named after Gervais, it came to revolve mostly around the life and ideas of Karl Pilkington. The show started in August 2001 on Xfm, and aired in weekly periods for months at a time throughout 2002, 2003, 2004 and mid-2005. In November 2005, Guardian Unlimited offered the show as a podcast series of 12 shows. An animated series based on the podcast and adapted for television debuted for HBO in the United States and Channel 4 in the UK in 2010.
Lesley Douglas is a British former radio executive. She was the Controller of BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music from early 2004 until her resignation in October 2008 over The Russell Brand Show prank calls.
Trevor Lock is an English comedian, actor and playwright. He is noted for the circuitous and surreal nature of his comedy.
Matthew Morgan is a British comedy writer and radio presenter. He is best known for his work with Russell Brand, with whom he shared numerous writing credits, as well as co-hosting The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio X.
In an episode of The Russell Brand Show broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 18 October 2008, the comedian Russell Brand and the presenter Jonathan Ross made prank calls to the actor Andrew Sachs that created controversy in the United Kingdom. Brand and Ross called Sachs to interview him on air; when he did not answer, they left lewd messages on his answering machine, including comments about Brand's relationship with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
Georgina Baillie is an English actor, artist, post-punk singer, songwriter, and formerly a burlesque performer. Her stage names have included Voluptua and Georgie Girl.
AudioBoomPLC is an on-demand audio and podcasting distribution platform. AudioBoom offers business-to-business services to the radio, media and podcast industries.
BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 14 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. The 'About Radio 2' BBC webpage says: "With a repertoire covering more than 60 years, Radio 2 plays the widest selection of music on the radio - from classic and mainstream pop to country, folk, jazz, musical theatre, soul, hip hop, rock 'n' roll, gospel and blues."
Matt Stephen Everitt is an English producer, writer and presenter. He co-founded the production company Cup & Nuzzle and appears on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 2. He was a drummer for Britpop band Menswear and The Montrose Avenue in the 1990s.
The Elis James and John Robins show is a weekly radio show presented by British comedians Elis James and John Robins. Formerly broadcast on commercial radio station Radio X, the show aired on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday afternoons until the end of 2023. The show was also released as a weekly podcast from BBC Sounds with a specially-recorded intro. From 6 February 2024, the show changed formats to two weekly podcasts, with a one-hour highlights broadcast on 5 Live on Friday afternoons - a change nicknamed "The Great Reset".