BB FANS

Exclusive: ITV has commissioned a full series of Matthew Kelly serial killer drama Cold Blood and has signed up Russell Brand to take on a straight acting role in the show.

Cold Blood was initially a pilot starring Kelly as a sinister serial killer, who had murdered eight women and a child, with John Hannah as his ex-cellmate and Jemma Redgrave as an ambitious detective. It broadcast in 2005 and attracted strong viewing figures, prompting the network to commission a follow-up singe drama, which will air next month.

theStage

RUSSELL BRAND'S NEW ROLE
24/02/2007

RUSSELL Brand is to star in ITV1's Cold Blood - in a straight-acting role.

He is said to be thrilled at joining the regular cast of the serial-killer drama.

Brand, 31, will play Ally, an obsessive stalker who plagues wife killer Jake, actor John Hannah.


A friend of Brand said: "He's an actor and this is what he wants to get into.

"We're chuffed but he wouldn't have got the part unless he was suited to it."

TV bosses are delighted to have landed Brand along with Bill Ward - Corrie's murdering builder Charlie Stubbs - and Birds of a Feather's Pauline Quirk for three episodes.

Quirk leads a detective team trying to establish the truth about a young girl's murder and investigate a link between deaths at an army base where Ward plays a lieutenant. mirror

Skinny Russell puts on muscle March 20, 2007
Sun

Skinny Russell puts on muscle

March 20, 2007

SKINNY Russell Brand has been in the gym to shape up for his TV acting debut.

The bouffant-haired comic has hired personal trainer Andy Jeffries to put some meat on his spindly legs. Andy said: “Celebs love the one-to-one training as they can be more focused.”

Russell, 31, plays a stalker in ITV thriller Cold Blood, airing later this year.

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