Brand backs BBC invite for BNP leader

Russell Brand today defended the BBC for inviting BNP leader Nick Griffin to appear on 'Question Time', declaring his faith in the British public to recognise “prats peddling rhubarb”.

The comedian said his former employer made the right decision and predicted it would make for “amusing TV”.

Brand, 34, quit his Radio 2 show in disgrace last October after he and Jonathan Ross left a series of lewd messages on 'Fawlty Towers' actor Andrew Sachs’ answering machine.

Writing in The Sun, he said: “I think the BBC are right to grant a forum to nitwits, Lord alone knows I’ve said some silly things on the Corporation’s dime (did they mention it?) and I have great confidence in the ability of British people to recognise prats peddling rhubarb and that’s what the BNP are.”

The star, who is currently working in Los Angeles, described Mr Griffin as “daft” and said there was “no risk” of him persuading people with his arguments.

“The more people who witness Nick Griffin equivocate on myopic loathing the better it is,” he wrote.

Brand also revealed how he met Mark Collett, the current head of public relations for the BNP, while making a short film a few years ago, when Collett was leader of the young BNP, and was shocked by his views.

He concluded his article by saying: “Right-wing views can be seductive and toxic in troubled times when astutely rendered by Machiavels but belched out by that t*t Griffin I’m sure it’ll just be an amusing bit of irrelevant TV.”