STAND-UP RUSSELL BRAND SECC. Sat 14 & Sun 15 Feb

happiest there, above all else in my life.’ He also stated that his shows have become his ‘right to reply' to the banner headlines and the scurrilous gossip. So, little

With Jonathan Ross back on the box and Russell Brand returning to our stages with the merest of minor tabloid outrage, it seems that the Sachsgate furore has at last subsided. Some Radio 2 heads may have rolled but the key characters can now get back to what they do best; heck, even Andrew Sachs got a seat on the shiny new Countdown while his gothy granddaughter presumably slinked back to her life as part of the Satanic Sluts.

In 2006, Brand told The List that doing stand-up gave him ‘an incredible sense of relief and release and a sense of homecoming. I’m in a relationship with an audience without anything impeding me and I’m at my

surprise then that his new show Scandalous keeps the story rumbling along with a remorseless, screened replaying of the incident with Mozart's Requiem blasting away in the background. ‘Je Ne Regrette Rien' might have made a good closing number. What will be more interesting further down the line is how Brand's stand-up takes shape were he to avoid any newspaper nonsense in the next year and a half. Or maybe this is simply what fuels his muse now that he’s done his ‘drug hell years’ to death. Russell Brand is not the messiah. He’s just a very naughty boy.

(Brian Donaldson)

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to comedyelistcomk. Listings are compiled by Slan Bevan. Indicates Hitlist entry

Glasgow

The Thursday Show The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; tnernbers £4). MC Susan (‘alman has the pleasure of introducing these line gents to the stage: Wayne [)eakin. Neil McFarlane and (‘hris (‘aims are here for a whole damned weekend of fun.

Edinburgh

Fit 0’ The Giggles The Mercat. 28 West Maitland Street. 225 386i. 8.30pm. £5/4. A selection box of Glasgow Comedy Festival previews. this week featuring host Keara Murphy. Barry McDonald and headliner Vladimir McTavish.

New The Jekyll & Hyde. l 12 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. The basement of doom continues to attract those looking

for comedy will] bite. headed up by weekly MC Rick Molland.

The Thursday Show The Stand. 5

York Place. 558 7272. ‘lptn. £8 (£7; members £4). l’i/Ibomb Billy Kirkw'txxl is your excitable host for the evening. And excitable he should be. with a line-up that includes ('arey Marx. Josh Howie and Niall Browne.

Glasgow

Peter Powers Pay ilion 'l‘heatre. l2] Rentield Street. 332 I846. 7.30pm.

£l l—£l3. Hypnotist act lTUlll Powers. who has been called ‘the Ali (i (ii stage hypnosis'. Please note: midnight Saturday show is for over 2 | s only.

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l’(i(‘ Building. l l Renl‘rew Street. 0844 844 0044. 8pm. Prom £l2. Key in (iildca. Simon Bligh and Sititig Roberts prose why they’re three of .longleurs‘ favourite acts this weekend. Don‘t forget. your ticket price will get you in the club afterwards where there'll be choons until 3am.

The Friday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 (i055. 8.30pm. £|0 (£9; members £5). See Thu 5.

Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni (‘entre. (ir‘ecnside Place. 0844 844 0044. 7.45pm. lirom U I. It you lancy some men telling jokes this weekend. then feel free to try otit Mike Milligan. l)el Strain and Mick l‘crry lor si/c. three exiwrienced chaps in the way (it the gag. There’s hot lood ayailable. and dancing until the wee hours is included in the ticket price.

The Friday Show The Stand. 5

York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £l0 (£9; members £5). See Thti 5 with Susan Morrison taking over compcring duties.

Glasgow

Peter Powers Pay ilioii Theatre. l2l Renlield Street. 332 1846. 7.30pm & midnight. £l l £I3. See l-‘ri (i. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(}(' Building. l l Rentirew Street. 0844 844 0044. 8pm. Prom £l2. See l’ri (i. Comedy 6 The State The State Bar. l48 Holland Street. 332 2l5‘). 9pm. £5. Resident M(' ('hris ‘The Ram' Brooml'ield introduces a ltthlUUs line-up. not for the taint-hearted. including the

Josh Howie With a personal history must stand ups would sell their lunnybone for, the son of tynne l ranks (the PH guru who inspired At) Fab's i dina Monsoon) recalls a somewhat confused upbringing. lhe Stand, Edinburgh, lhu {)7 Sun 8 let).

Raymond Mearns Glasgow's purveyor of some shaggy dog stories brings us a show of that very name. the Stand, Glasgow, Mon F) / eh.

DiScOmBoBuLaTe A literary and comedic mix wrth the likes of Alan Bissett and Aidan Moftat spouting oil in bookish and amusing ways. CCA, Glasgow, lue 70 fret).

Russell Brand The walking controversy tries to set aside his 08 woes by getting back to what he does best upon the live circuit. See prevrew. SECC, Glasgow, Sat 14 8. Sun 15 Feb.

Dylan Moran Everyone's favourite Edinburghbased Irish comic/actor returns to these parts for more of his What It Is tour. Very funny is what it is. actually. Paw/Ion ’l‘heatre, Glasgow, Wed 78 let).

llet'esy (iodlalltcr Rick Molland. evil genius Mark Nelson and David Barr. The Saturday Show The Stand. 333 \Voodlands Road. 0870 ()le (i055. ‘lpin. £l3. See Thu 5.

Woodlands Bumper Value Comedy Club l'isge Bcatha. 2 32 24h Woodlands Road. 504 l5‘)(i. ()pltl. £(i (£4). Another night ol labulous comedy led by (ilasgow ‘s Alan Anderson and his hand ol merry men and ladies.

Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()inni ('cntrc. (irecnsidc Place. 0844 844 0044. 7.45pm. lirom U I. See liri (i. The Saturday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ()pm. £l3. See Thu 5.

Glasgow

Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 \Mxxllands Road. 0870 (>00 (>055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £l ). Head downstairs into the warmth of The Stand tor a traditional Sunday evening with l'uI/u'r 787/ star Michael Redmond. This week he's joined by acts such as Day id Kay. ('hris ('aims and AUstin Low.

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