Russell Brand

There was a time, a few years ago, when it seemed that we would never see or hear the end of Russell Brand: TV channels, radio schedules and newspapers jostled with his loud-mouthed, risqué and occasionally funny presence on a near-daily basis. But then, in October 2008, the "Sachsgate" scandal hit and his broadcasting career on this side of the pond more or less dried up. This energetically confrontational stand-up show, recorded last year in London, marks a return of sorts to British TV, with topics including his disastrous hosting of the MTV Video Awards, his film career and the media scrum that engulfed him during "Sachsgate".

Russell Brand to have US radio show

Russell Brand is being lined up to host his own radio show in America.

Jonathan Ross books Beckham for his final BBC show

Jonathan Ross is going out with a bang - after booking David Beckham as his final chat show guest at the Beeb. He called on Golden Balls after humourless BBC1 chiefs banned him from bringing on controversial pal Russell Brand. The host has also lined up actor Jackie Chan and singers Prince and Tom Jones.

Jonathan Ross uses Twitter to shout at the People

Jonathan Ross was all a-twitter yesterday over a Sunday newspaper story about him and his mate Russell Brand.

Russell Brand to star in The Simpsons

Comedian Russell Brand is set to star in the world's biggest TV show - The Simpsons.

At some point in the recent past, James Corden decided to combine being a fine actor with an alternative career as TV's new King of Blokes. James Corden's World Cup Live is one of the consequences.

Borrowing flagrantly from the formats of countless shows before it - Sky's Soccer AM, TGI Friday and Baddiel and Skinner being the most obvious - James Corden's World Cup Live is a blend of comedy, chat and banter performed before a braying studio audience that has been as ruthlessly drilled as the Arsenal offside trap under George Graham. (Soccer-phobic readers: rest assured that this is my last torturous football analogy.)

"A good point!" pronounced James Corden on England's one-all draw in their opening World Cup match against the USA. Either Corden hadn't watched the same toothless, largely clueless, and hilariously calamitous performance I'd endured, or he had a live party to host in its aftermath and wasn't going to let dour reality intrude on the festivities.

In an eclectic choice of guests for the opening show, the sofa was shared by Simon Cowell, who needs no introduction, and Katy Perry, who soon will, should Russell Brand dump her as his fiancee.

Had England beaten the USA I'm sure Katy's combination of kookiness and volume would have charmed the watching nation, but as things stood, her presence was overwhelmingly irritating and pointless.

She was, however, preferable to the intolerably smug Cowell, there to plug his World Cup single. "I'm going to get it played in the England dressing room at half time" he boasted. As if the team didn't have enough to worry about.

But the show sinks or swims on the abilities of its star. Quick-witted and affable, Corden performed heroics in keeping up the show's momentum through its modest 20-minute duration. James Corden's World Cup Live could yet prove good fun, it just needs to loosen up and relax into its run - a bit like the England football team, in fact.

Anyone who had their doubts that Alan Carr would make a good chat show host has been proved firmly, delightfully wrong. In this fourth series of knockabout conversations, he demonstrates his show isn't just deliciously watchable, it now has serious pulling power. Top of the bill tonight is man of the moment Russell Brand, currently receiving rave reviews in America for his performance as a dissolute rock star in Get Him to the Greek. For all Brand's global fame, Carr will be sure to bring him crashing down to earth with a few cheeky questions about Sachsgate. Other guests include Pamela Anderson and three of the cast of Glee (including Matthew "Mr Schue" Morrison). With music from quirky rapper Plan B, it should be a pleasantly packed show.

Alan Carr is proof that TV sometimes does inexplicably awful things. At best Carr is tumbleweed, grinning and flapping as he rolls across the light entertainment schedules. At worst he is a cackling banshee, making everything a point of camp pride. Which makes it the more remarkable that Channel 4 has brought him back for this, yet another series of his charmless chat show. His line-up of guests tonight is somehow fitting: Russell Brand, he of the preeningly verbose stand-up routines and Sachs-bothering phone calls; Pamela Anderson, who in the early Nineties filled the lead bimbo role in Baywatch; and the cast of Glee, the shrilly hyperactive musical comedy series broadcast on E4.

Russell Brand talks about Sachsgate scandal

Russell Brand has blasted the Sachsgate storm - comparing it with spilling a glass of water 'and the wife comes down and shoots the dog'.

Russell Brand: This charming man

He's the arch seducer who is settling down; the BBC renegade who is hot property in Hollywood. Everyone loves Russell Brand - but not half as much as he loves himself.