Russell Brand talks Tom Cruise before Chris invades Abbey Road
A caller began the show by explaining how she had chased Tom Jones along a corridor after seeing him at Canadian Idol. She got past his security, told him she was Welsh and received a friendly response, although Scott was most impressed that she had travelled to Canada only to decide the British version of the programme was better.
Russell Brand joined Scott to discuss Rock of Ages and the baboon that Tom Cruise had added to the film. Russell remembered being nervous around the animal, taking unusual singing lessons and building a genuine friendship with Alec Baldwin. He also described arriving late for dinner at Cruise’s heavily secured home, eating several courses after everybody else had finished and receiving yoga equipment from him as a birthday present.
The conversation wandered through Russell’s life in Los Angeles, his new television programme and the unlikely experience of hosting an event with the Dalai Lama in Manchester. He said he still expected to return to Britain eventually and enjoyed explaining programmes such as Worzel Gummidge to confused Americans. His appearance ended with an invitation for under-25s to see the Dalai Lama for free.
The Abbey Road webcam had distracted listeners all week by showing tourists slowly recreating the Beatles’ album cover and holding up traffic. Chris volunteered to join them, so the team sent him out in a sombrero and high-visibility jacket with another Chris wearing an afro wig. Live on the webcam, he crossed the road, waved to the camera and performed his familiar dance from The Inbetweeners while horns sounded around him.
Back in the studio, the team counted Mark Wright saying “boys” 34 times during the first episode of Mark Wright’s Hollywood Nights. They also compared restrained British football commentary with wildly emotional clips from Italy and Spain. Scott recommended Charlie Sloth and Comedy Dave’s alternative commentary for that evening’s England match to listeners who found the football itself less exciting.
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