Russell Brand Lands Comedy Awards Nomination After Prank Radio Calls

Russell Brand has been nominated for a Comedy Award just weeks after he was forced to resign from the BBC for making prank calls on his radio show.

The comedian, who admitted last weekend that the calls had been toned down for broadcast, is shortlisted for Best Live Stand-Up.

Broadcaster Jonathan Ross, who was given a 3 month suspension for his role in the calls, has also received a nomination for his chat show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

Brand and Ross left a series of lewd messages on actor Andrew Sachs' answer phone claiming the comedian has slept with his granddaughter.

The obscene messages, which were broadcast during Brand's BBC Radio 2 show on October 18th, received widespread public criticism.

On Sunday, Brand told the Observer that “more personal stuff” had been omitted at the actor's request.

Brand caused controversy in September as host of the MTV Video Music award.