Lesley Douglas, controller of 6 Music and Radio 2, said: "It has been good for digital radio to have a star like Russell presenting on 6 Music. He really is at the top of his form."

Russell, 31, is a former heroin addict who was sacked from his job at MTV in 2001 for turning up for work the day after the September 11 attacks dressed as Osama bin Laden.

He found mainstream fame as the host of Big Brother’s Little Brother on E4 and landed his own show, Russell Brand’s Got Issues.

The legendary lothario has been linked to a string of stars, including supermodel Kate Moss.

A 6 Music insider said: "To put on 40% more listeners in a year is great for us and we’re putting it down to the Russell Brand effect."

The quarterly audience figures were released today by industry body Rajar.

Radio 1 Breakfast DJ Chris Moyles continues to add listeners - his audience of 6.81 million was up 20,000 on the quarter and 290,000 year-on-year.

Has Russell found his ideal lady? - Oct 16, 2020
Could this be love for Russell Brand? The lanky lothario has admitted he has met someone he "really, really likes".

Despite being spotted with a host of different women over the past year, including Courtney Love, Kate Moss and BB’s Imogen Thomas, the 31-year-old insists this time it’s different.

Speaking at this weekend’s Secret Policeman’s Ball, where he performed live, the randy funnyman said he is planning on changing his ways for his new lady.

He said: "I’ve met someone that I really, really like and I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with womanising promiscuity - why not, fun, nice, exciting to sleep with loads of different people.

"But now I’ve met someone that I really like so I think I’ll just settle down, behave myself a bit, stay out of trouble, keep me nose clean, concentrate on comedy."

The Big Brother’s Big Mouth star, who is also known for his tight trousers and long curly locks added that he doesn’t base his style on "anybody".

"I don’t have no-one to base it upon. Who else looks like this I wonder - except perhaps the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang a little bit? He’s been a big influence," he joked.

Russell dons a dog collar - Oct 11 2006
Comedy lothario Russell Brand has become a vicar, it has been revealed - but you won’t see him in the pulpit.

The presenter, who famously enjoyed a liaison with Kate Moss, hasn’t cleaned up his act just yet - he was ordained as a ’net vicar’, according to the Daily Star.  The unlikely move meant that Russell, 31, could marry two of his friends at their wedding in Italy.

He reportedly told a friend that he spent his 30th birthday last year with his pals as they tied the knot.  "They asked me and I thought it was a great idea and said yes," he said. "I thought it was a good way to celebrate my birthday and a nice thing to do."

It is easy to obtain the qualification needed via the internet. 

Russell now joins the ranks of other celebrity who have been ordained, such as Robbie Williams, Sharon Stone and Joe Pasquale.  And not to forget Matt LeBlanc’s character Joey on Friends, who presided over more than one wedding on the show.  Do we sense a celebrity trend?

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