Coogan slams 'cynical' comics

Steve Coogan has slammed the modern generation of comics as too "nasty" - accusing stars including Russell Brand of relying too much on "cynicism" in their work.

Brand recently quit his BBC Radio 2 show after he and fellow broadcaster, Jonathan Ross, were heavily criticised for leaving lewd messages on Fawlty

Towers star Andrew Sachs' answering machine, in which they discussed Brand's fling with the 78-year-old's granddaughter Georgina Baillie.

And Coogan was disgusted when he heard about the prank, insisting comedians like Brand need to clean up their acts.

He says: "I like comedy that's anti-cynical. Russell and Jonathan were symptomatic of cynical comedy. I want people to move on from the idea that to be edgy is to be nasty. People disguise nastiness as edginess, and it's not.

It's a cheap shortcut. Some stupid people think that if you say something nasty, it makes you edgy and that bugs me more than anything."