Russell Brand and Dalai Lama to share stage

Comedian Russell Brand is to share a stage with Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The controversial stand-up and actor will act as master of ceremonies when the 76-year-old Dalai Lama addresses thousands of young people in Manchester next week.

Brand has been a vocal supporter of the Tibetan cause, often peppering his old Radio 2 show with cries of "free Tibet". The Dalai Lama, who established the Tibetan Government in Exile in northern India's Dharamsala, will deliver the talk, which is free to the under-25s, at the MEN Arena on Saturday 16 June.

He will call for young people to push for peace during the address, entitled Century of Dialogue – Stand Up And Be The Change.

The Dalai Lama's representative for northern Europe, Thubten Samdup, said: "We are delighted to have Russell Brand as master of ceremonies for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Russell has demonstrated the power of spirituality to effect change in his own life. His holiness the Dalai Lama believes that it is essential to inspire ordinary citizens – especially young people – to find meaning and purpose in their lives."

Sky Atlantic announced this week that it would be screening Brand's first series on British TV since the Sachsgate scandal – the US-made Brand X.

The unscripted TV comedy show is described as being Russell Brand's "unfiltered take on current events, politics and popular culture".