Russell Brand tells audience they should have bought drugs instead of stand-up tickets

When fans said they had paid £20 to watch his show Brand said: 'Twenty quid. Five quid more, you could have got a quarter'

A former drug addict, Brand has spoken extensively about his past addiction to heroin (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Russell Brand told an audience that they should have bought drugs with their ticket money rather than paying to watch his stand-up show.

The divisive comedian asked fans how much they had paid to attend his show at Camden’s Roundhouse, north London on Wednesday while trialling new material in the wake of his Australian tour.

When one of the crowd heckled back that he had spent £20 to attend, Brand referenced buying marijuana replying, “Twenty quid. Five quid more, you could have got a quarter. Drugs are easy,” according to theDaily Star.

He then said: “Don’t worry, it’s going to be OK, is heroin still available in Camden? We’re OK.”

Adding: “My job is to provide you with some form of non-chemical entertainment.”

During the show Brand reportedly said that he made a “mistake” supporting Labour leader Ed Miliband in the general election campaign.

He also made a swipe at Ukip leader Nigel Farage telling a member of the audience that he looked “Aryan” and was “exactly the kind of person who needs to stay if Farage is to be assuaged”.

A former drug addict, Brand has spoken extensively about his past addiction to heroin.

Brand has abstained from drug use since 2002 and is now a patron of the Focus 12 drug treatment programme after using the service himself.

This is not the first time that Russell Brand has made controversial comments in recent weeks.

The stand-up star ignited a furious backlash last month when he suggested that the Queen may as well have been called “Mrs Bratwurst-Kraut-Nazi”, days after leaked video footage emerged showing the Queen giving a Nazi salute as a young girl.