Russell Howard

Russell Howard: 'I wouldn't go near Japan, unless...'

Russell Howard's Good News, dedicated to putting a quirky spin on current affairs, is back. The comic tells Dominic Cavendish his take on 'the Gaddafi situation' and the earthquake in Japan.

Comedians re-create childhood photos

Take a dozen comedians, add some snaps from the family album, mix them all up and what do you get? Featuring Alan Carr, Miranda Hart, Greg Davies, Jessica Hynes, Sarah Millican, Dom Joly, Jason Byrne, Shappi Khorsandi, Chris Addison, Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard and Jon Holmes.

Russell Howard talks about his sell-out O2 gig

Comedian Russell Howard comes to the O2 Arena in Greenwich for the first time this week, performing two sell-out gigs. He talks to reporter Jasmine Coleman about going from the comedy club circuit to the big stage and screen.

You could make a good argument that 2010 was the best year for a while in TV comedy. Harry Hill and Benidorm scaled new heights on ITV. The Inbetweeners brought E4 its biggest audience yet. On BBC2 a string of quirky sitcoms (The Trip, Grandma's House, Rev, Roger & Val Have Just Got In) felt like the stirrings of a new wave. And the likes of Michael McIntyre, John Bishop and Russell Howard made ever larger numbers of people rock with laughter just by standing on a stage, talking. So there's plenty for the annual prize-giving to mull over as Jonathan Ross calls the assembled funny-folk to order at the 02 in London. On past form, Ross will kick the evening off with a laboured and overlong routine of his own, despite being the 43rd best stand-up in the room, then he'll strive to keep order as a procession of writers, actors and comics seize both their trophies and the chance to be cheeky on live TV. And on past form, it should be a blast.

Video - Five Minutes With: Russell Howard

Comedian Russell Howard talks to Matthew Stadlen about what inspires his material, how he prepares for big arena shows, the importance of self-deprecating humour and why he owes his career to a banana.

Russell Howard: Laughing all the way to the bank

If you're young, chances are you'll love Russell Howard, with his topical BBC show garnering a million hits on iPlayer. Ian Burrell meets the small-town boy about to embark on a money-spinning tour.

It's like The Inbetweeners take on current affairs as adolescent-type Russell Howard returns with this extended version of Thursday's night's opener to the third series of Good News. Sticking to its popular formula and fitting in with BBC3's bubbly remit, get ready for ADHD facial expressions, funny voices and jokes about tits, toilets and shagging. It should be praised as one of the only places on TV you'll hear "arsebiscuit" and George Osbourne in the same sentence but if you don't like Howard, Newsnight is mere days away.

Russell Howard on watching TV for a living

The 30-year-old's career in comedy has taken off thanks to his musings on the world as presented in newspapers, online and on telly. And although he spends half his time on-screen slagging off the way the world is reported in the country's papers, he knows he'd be lost without it.

The BBC didn't have to look far for a presenter to fill Jonathan Ross's shoes. All it took was a quick shuffle of the schedules, cross out the word "Monday", replace it with "Friday" and Hey Presto! The Graham Norton Show is all good to go.

We predict his move to the coveted Friday night throne will be sparkling and seamless as the new King Of Chat welcomes Charlotte Church, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal and comedian Russell Howard (whose own new series started on BBC3 last night).

The irony of the risque host being turned into the BBC's safe pair of hands in the wake of the Sachsgate fiasco won't be lost on Norton and we'll be disappointed if he doesn't milk this for a bit of comedy mileage. At least, it should be a nice change for female guests not to be leered at.