1 Leicester Square
| 1 Leicester Square | |
 The 1 Leicester Square title card | |
| Genre | Chatshow |
| Runing time | 54 mins (approx.) |
| Host | Russell Brand |
| Notable Guests | Stephen Merchant (25 Sept 2006), Mackenzie Crook (9 July 2006) |
| Country | UK |
| Network | MTV UK |
| Original runs | 23 April 2006 – September 2006 |
| No. of episodes | 16+ |
| IMDB Profile | |
1 Leicester Square was a chatshow on MTV UK hosted by Russell Brand. The show featured celebrity guests, musical entertainment and various asides by the presenter. The theme tune was taken from the opening of Led Zeppelin's song Moby Dick. The show was widely viewed as a vehicle for the comeback of Russell Brand after his sacking from MTV in 2001.
On 25 September 2006, Stephen Merchant appeared on the show to promote Extras 2 (see below)
Format of the Show
The show began with an announcer introducing the host Russell Brand. Controversially, he was once introduced as being 'bigger than Jesus' in reference to a misquoted claim by John Lennon claiming that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus. After entering Brand would sit in a flamboyantly upholstered chair with a zebra fabric for the seat covering. He would then introduce the musical act for the show who would play a track. After this, an announcer will introduce the first guest (usually the biggest star) with a comically fabricated fact or anecdote about them. Russell would then interview the guest, after which would follow a commercial break.
After the break, Brand usually interviewed the week's musical act in another area of the studio. This was usually punctuated with a sketch and Daniel and Len's Video Review (see below). This interview typically followed with another interview by Brand next to a mock bar with another celebrity. After this interview would be another commercial break.
The last portion of the show was with the segment For Pity's Sake Help Us (see below), followed by another performance from the guest musical act.
Short Features
Daniel and Len's Video Review
Daniel and Len's Video Review was a weekly feature of the program in which there were typically three different reviews of recently released videos. The actual reviewing took a backseat to discussion of developments in the lives of Daniel and his grandson Len. Daniel was played by Russell Brand and is portrayed as an old man, whilst Len (played by Brand's friend and BBC 6 Music colleague Matt Morgan) was portrayed as a very pale baby. There was an ongoing theme of Daniel's struggle to seduce Elaine, a social worker who was assigned to look after Len. Dogtanian was also frequently referred to, being championed by Len and damned by Daniel after he lived in their house, strutting around in a vest top 'giving it the big I am'.
Pimp My Application
Pimp My Application is a spoof of the popular MTV show Pimp My Ride UK. It only appeared once on the show. Russell Brand parodies Tim Westwood, giving him a hook for a hand, a peg leg and a squawking voice. Brand lampooned the show by using over-exaggerated street speak when describing how they were going to 'pimp' up a person's CV when he was applying for a job.
For Pity's Sake Help Us
This was a feature towards the end of each show. Audience members were asked if they have any problems and these were then addressed by that day's celebrity guests.
The Rats
The Rats was a sketch performed before each of the commercial breaks and at the end of the show. Two rats were crudely manipulated and given human voices. They usually engaged in short, humorous conversation that loosely related to a topic of discussion in the previous segment.
Minor Characters
Gatwick
Gatwick was a model of a man that loosely resembled Prince Charles and occasionally used by Brand as a prop on the show.
Dan the Researcher
Dan was the show's mysterious researcher that Brand would allude to after fabricating or bringing up an obscure fact about his interviewee.
Guests
Stephen Merchant
On 25 September 2006, Stephen Merchant came on to promote the second series of Extras. Almost immediately upon sitting down, Steve remarked that Russell "looked quite cool on telly, but in real life looked sort of preposterous". Russell feigned great offense. Later, Steve and other guests The Zutons, participated in the For Pity's Sake Help Us feature of the show. Steve did the "Gaylords Say No" test on an audience member and proved him gay. Steve then became jealous of two other guests who were swingers. Download the interview here
Other Guests
The show featured a number of guest stars, including
- Mackenzie Crook 9 July 2006
- Alicia Silverstone
- Christina Aguilera
- Christian Slater
- Uma Thurman
- Tom Cruise
- Jamie Foxx
- Anthony Stewart Head
- Tara Palmer Tomkinson
- Boy George
- Tim Westwood
- Dannii Minogue
- Nerina Pallot
- Tom Jones
- Graham Norton
- Ross Noble
- Steve Coogan
- Rob Brydon
- Busta Rhymes
- Noel Gallagher
- Carmen Electra
The show occasionally featured pre-recorded interviews taking place outside of the studio. Guests interviewed in this fashion included
- Brandon Routh
- Kevin Spacey
- Kate Bosworth
- Kelly Brook
Videos of some of the guests' interviews are available on MTV's website.
Musical Acts
Musical acts that appeared on the show include
- Orson
- The Zutons
- Wolfmother
- Dirty Pretty Things
- Gnarls Barkley
- The Streets
- Embrace
- The Kooks
- Guillemots