russell brandRussell Brand is reportedly planning to escape to Los Angeles as soon as possible, after quitting his BBC Radio 2 job in disgrace this week.

The comedian decided to jump from his presenting gig before he was pushed after this week’s prank call controversy with Jonathan Ross. In a pre-recorded section of a show broadcast at the weekend, the two men crank-called former Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs and left messages on his answering machine about Russell sleeping with his granddaughter Georgina. In the subsequent furore, which dragged in the BBC Trust directors and the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Russell quit and Jonathan has been suspended for 12 weeks.

Now a source close to the comedian has told the Sun that Russell is racing to complete filming the Christmas special of his Channel 4 show Ponderland: “Russell rushed along the filming so he could get to LA as soon as possible.

“He just wants to get on the next plane out of England - and get away from this mess.”