Russell Brand - Tapa dura

This is the first biography of Russell Brand, presenter of Big Brother's "Big Mouth", "Time Out" magazine's Comedian of the Year and the most talked about man of the moment. It reveals, in depth, the highs and lows of the comedian's extraordinary life, from his troubled childhood to his sensational revival of his career, via his addiction to sex, alcohol and drugs and his high-profile racy relationships. Russell consistently gains massive media exposure, both for his work and for his unpredictable private life - one tabloid labelled him 'mad, Brand and dangerous to know'. It is published to coincide with the new series of "Celebrity Big Brother", which starts in January 2007. Who is the real Russell Brand? "Russell Brand: Unleashed, Untamed, Unauthorized" dares to delve into the weird world of comedy's hottest property and find out. And it's one hell of a discovery, including: a battle with depression, self-harm, long-term bulimia, heroin and crack addictions and resorting to prostitutes in order to satiate his rampant sexual appetite. His legendary drug-fuelled TV 'pranks' meant he was sensationally axed from both MTV and XFM. But a mere four years on from hitting rock bottom, Brand has staged an incredibly impressive comeback. His searingly honest stand-up routines have been met with rave reviews, while his madcap TV presenting continues to pick up both fans and critical acclaim. Romantically linked to Kate Moss and at least three Big Brother ex-housemates, he is rarely, if ever, out of the headlines, and for good reason - who knows what he may do next? Featuring exclusive interviews with a girlfriend, friends and teachers as well as never-before-seen photos, "Russell Brand: Unleashed, Untamed, Unauthorized" reveals the truth behind the rumours.

Tanith Carey is a national newspaper journalist who until recently was the New York correspondent for the Daily Mirror and has variously been the Mirror's Features Editor, Woman's Editor and Consumer Editor.