All over him

 Lorraine Heggessey told Today listeners this morning that she didn't think Russell Brand suitable for BBC1. 

But others did. He appeared as 'Shane' in Daniel Peacock's six part kids drama 'Mud' in 1994, two years after being expelled from the Italia Conti Drama School for drug use and poor attendance. This was before Lorraine was put in charge of Children's programming. 

Lorraine stepped down as Controller BBC1 in 2005; in 2006, Brand was a guest on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in May 2006. In July 2006, he was a panellist on 'Rob Brydon's Anally Retentive', made for BBC3.  In October 2006 he was a guest on BBC2's Culture Show.  In March 2007, he featured in sketches in Comic Relief. 

In June 2007 he was back on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, and also made an appearance in a Radio 4 sitcom, Clement Doesn't Live Here Anymore. In July 2007, he was hosting 'Live Earth' backstage for Radio 2. In August 2007, he was guest on a BBC4 birthday tribute to Stephen Fry. In November 2007 he was a guest on Woman's Hour with Jenni Murray, a guest on Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon, and yes, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

In November 2007, he was Dawn French's guest on a BBC4 series "Boys Who Do Comedy". In December 2007 he was a panellist on Have I Got News For You ?, back as a guest on The Culture Show, fronting a one-hour documentary for Radio 2 on Richard Pryor, travelling across America with his mate Matt Morgan for a BBC2 documentary in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac, in conversation with the Spice Girls for Radio 2, and a guest on The Graham Norton Show. 

Then a slight lull, before gigs with Edith Bowman on Radio 1 and Steve Wright on Radio 2, and yes, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross in April 2008. 

October 2008 saw Russell guesting with Chris Moyles on Radio 1, and with Mark Lawson on Radio 4's Front Row.