Russell Brand

Russell Brand is the kind of comedian/TV star/actor/presenter who i've obviously always known exists, but who i've always just sort of greeted with a 'meh', response.

I've tried listening to him on BBC Radio 2 (meh), watching him act in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (meh) and in presenter mode on the MTV:VMA's (meh). The word controversy seems to follow him around for no other reason than he is a bit metro sexual, likes sex and wears tight trousers.

Last night, in curious, 'but everyone else loves him', mode I went with some mates to see him test out some new stand up at The Pleasence in the highly depressing Caladonian Road.

After having our phones checked into the cloakroom for risk of any of Russell's new material appearing on youtube, we squeezed into the tiny theatre.

Russell bounded out looking as you'd expect: black T-shirt, black cardigan and black trousers that look like they'd be a total arse to take off. He had a stand next to him with notes on it clearly indicating that this is a work in progress.

...and, it was fantastic. The comedy was spot on and seemingly highly personal. He had no worries showing off his vulnerability, and he does come across as a vulnerable person (which I really didn't expect), but what really surprised me was his utterly fantastic knowledge and intelligence about a seemingly never ending range of subjects. His mind would wander off on a tangent about, for example, Mother Teresa, and he would quite happily and easily pull out quotes, facts and figures about the lady in question, seemingly plucking them from nowhere. Also his vocabulary - engaging, extensive and on the odd occasion bewildering. I've never heard someone use the word aplomb so often and so naturally.

If you get a chance, go and see him! It is easy to see why he was at one time the 7th most Googled thing.