Russell's big guns quit show

SEX-mad Russell Brand's chat show has been plunged into crisis after the exit of two key players behind the series.

The host's much-hyped discussion programme, Russell Brand's Got Issues, launched on digital channel E4 last month.

The show had been a hotly-anticipated follow-up to Brand's summer hit Big Brother's Big Mouth.

But the chat show is in turmoil after director Dave Skinner and a producer left last week.

A TV insider said: "The show hasn't taken off as expected. The departures have come as a shock. It's not a happy ship."

TV bosses are holding crisis meetings before the show - which attracted just 156,000 viewers in its first outing - switches to Channel 4 next month.

A spokeswoman said: "Changes were made for editorial reasons." Skinner refused to comment.

Ex-drug addict Brand, 31, was crowned Funniest Man at last week's Loaded Lafta awards.

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