Webchat with Russell Brand - Weds 12 Nov - 1 o'clock

[JustineMumsnet]

We're very pleased to say that Russell Brand is joining us on Wednesday 12 November between 1 and 2pm.

For those who don't know, Russell Brand is a comedian, actor and author.

His latest book, Revolution, sets out his views for political change - because, he says, "democracy has been taken away from us".

You might have caught his recent interview on Newsnight, which was widely discussed on the boards.

This is his third book, following My Booky Wook and Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal and has just published the first in a new series of children's books Russell Brand's Trickster Tales: The Pied Piper of Hamelin, written by Russell and illustrated by Chris Riddell.

Please do join us on Wednesday - or if you can't, feel free to post questions in advance, here.

(Reminder that we only allow one question and one follow-up per user, so make sure to use yours wisely )

Because everyone knows Farage and IDS are baddies but there's discussion to be had about whether RB is a baddie or a goodie?

If I wrote on a feminist blog about how much I hated Farage, everyone would be like, 'So?' There wouldn't be any UKIP voters reading my blog anyway so no-one would have their minds changed.
Whereas with Brand some lefties like him and some (mostly the more feminist ones) don't, and they talk to each other and read each other's writing, so it makes sense for the two sides to try to influence each other.

"Read the book, the book is completely transparent..."

Must be pretty hard to read if it's transparent.

I think The Countess is right. RB is less easily pigeonholed than most other public figures and that causes debate because it creates space for different opinions of him. We've become accustomed to public figures having a fixed public persona yet RB is the misogynist who admits women are integral to any revolution and that their subjugation is one of the reasons revolution is necessary. He's the person who admits to being a drug addict but preaches an abstinence recovery approach. He's the 'adult' comedian who writes a children's book. He's the flashy actor who genuinely commits time to helping community projects.

I think he's an interesting character. I don't think he's a Messiah or the devil incarnate. I'm OK with him having different aspects to his personalality. Hence i don't really understand why people who have never met him, feel so emotionally invested in tarring him as good or bad. It's almost as though their value system can only function in black and white.

I've just read a load of this and wish I hadn't wasted my time, live and learn!

Mumsnet I think he was a poor choice but obviously lots of people love him!

I find him very sexist.

I did not see an answer to the question about his publishing company not paying proper taxes.

The idea not to vote is crap, people have risked and lost their lives for the right to vote.

He's beaten a habit, that is great but so have many other ordinary people.

I find him sexist and very unfunny. Still quite amazed so many people like his act.

Please remind us how revolution which historically has ushered in the likes of Stalin and has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide is somehow preferable to a - flawed - democracy??