MY WAPEY RAPE JOKE

Russell Brand has been forced to make a public apology this morning after making a prank call to a local sex attack hotline during one of his stand-up shows. Jokes about rape aren't usually well received. The hotline was set up after a series of incidents had been reported involving a figure known in the area as 'The Underpass Attacker'. Cue tiresome jokes about his 'local underpass'.

Russell borrowed a member of the audience's mobile phone to call the hotline and then told the operator he had seen a suspicious man wearing polka dot trousers and a pink cap. He could at least have described John Lesley...

Russell said:

"I had someone come near my local underpass. He was dressed atrociously. He looked like Timmy Mallett."

Russell told the operator his name was Sarah before she hung up. Lynda Yorke, of Leicester Rape Crisis, said last night:

"I don’t think it’s amusing. It’s in very poor taste. The issue of sexual assault is often belittled and such callous behaviour is extremely hurtful to the victims."

Brand responded with an apology:

"I am devastated by the possibility I may have offended vulnerable people."

Nice to see he's not worried about offending everyone else though.