Alternative Heroes - Russell Grant

Russell Grant... how can you not love this guy? He's as broad as he is long, and makes Herr Lipp seem like Dirty Harry. I'm not sure how tall Russell is, but he can't be much more than 5ft.. people he interviews always tower over him, sometimes the kids. Especially the kids.

Russell is as camp as you like and gives interviews like this... his TV show, Russell Grant's Postcards, was solid fare for insomniacs, night shift workers and students alike. Who can forget the episode in Blackpool when he bought a veritable shoe box of a fish supper on the pier and started bleating "Ooh me chips! Not me chips!", desperately trying to hold them out of the reach of some inebriated scally-tarts who were trying to get their 15 minutes of fame by filching the man's dinner?

Perhaps he deserved it though, as just before this scene there was a truly unforgivable music sequence, in which a very casio-keyboard-style dance beat accompanied the deadpan chant of "In the house... Russell's in the house..."

Nevertheless, for your dedication to your cause and for being wider than you are tall, Russell Grant, you are honoured to be the first of my Alternative Heroes. Take a bow little big guy.