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 is a chatshow on MTV UK that is hosted by Russell Brand. The show features celebrity guests, musical entertainment and various assides featuring the presenter. The theme tune is taken from the opening of Led Zeppelin's song Moby Dick. The show is widely viewed as a vehicle for the comeback of Russell Brand after his sacking from MTV in 2001.
In September 2006, Stephen Merchant appeared on the show to promote Extras 2 (see below)
Format of the Show
The show begins with an announcer introducing the presenter, 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 sits in a flamboyantly upholstered chair with a zebra fabric for the seat covering. He then introduces the musical act for the show and they will 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. The guest will then be interviewed whilst they sit on a sofa next to Russell. After this interview, there is usually a commercial break.
After the break, Brand usually interviews the musical act that is on the show this week in another area of the studio. This is usually punctuated with a sketch and Daniel and Len's Video Review (see below). This interview is typically followed with another interview by Brand next to a mock bar with another celebrity. After this interview there is another commercial break.
The last Portion of the show is taken up 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 is a weekly feature of the program in which there are typically three different reviews of videos that have been recently released. The actual reviewing takes a backseat to discussion of developments in the lives of Daniel and his grandson Len. Daniel is 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) is portrayed as a very pale baby. There is 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 UK show Pimp My Ride UK. It has 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 lampoons the show by using over-exaggerated street speak when describing how they are going to 'pimp' up a person's CV when he is applying for a job.
For Pity's Sake Help Us
This is a feature that Brand always ends the show with, save the last musical performance. Audience members are asked if they have any problems and these are then answered by some of the celebrities that have appeared earlier in the show.
The Rats
The Rats is a sketch that is performed before each of the commercial breaks and at the end of the show. Two rats are crudely manipulated and given human voices. They will usually engage in a short, humorous conversation that loosely relates to a topic of discussion in the previous segment.
Minor Characters
Gatwick
Gatwick is a model of a man that loosely resembles Prince Charles and is occasionally used by Brand as a prop on the show.
Dan the Researcher
Dan is the show's mysterious researcher that Brand alludes 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. Firstly, Steve offended Russell by calling his hair "preposterous". Later, Steve and other guests The Zutons, participated in the For Pity's Sake Help Us feature of the show. Steve did the gaytest 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 has featured many other guests on it. These include: -
- 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 has occasionally featured interviews that are pre-recorded, outside of the studio. Guests that have been interviewed in this fashion include: -
- 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 have appeared on the show include: -
- Orson
- The Zutons
- Wolfmother
- Dirty Pretty Things
- Gnarls Barkley
- The Streets
- Embrace
- The Kooks
- Guillemots