Inside Russell Brand’s Grim Life at HMP Wandsworth

The same sources claim he has barely been eating, has asked for vegetarian meals and has inquired about joining a Bible study group. These accounts come from unnamed insiders, and the prison service has not been quoted confirming them.

Arrival on the wing

A prison source said Brand looked frightened when he arrived. "When he arrived, he came floating in almost as though he was the Messiah," the source said. "There was this air of superiority about him – but you could tell immediately that it was an act."

The source added that Brand looked extremely pale and close to being sick, despite trying to project confidence. "He looked absolutely horrified when he was marched into his cell," the source said.

Brand also reportedly asked whether he could have some privacy when using the toilet.

Warnings from staff and inmates

A woman who visited her son at Wandsworth said staff had already spoken to Brand about his manner. "He's quite an arrogant person really, so the staff told him 'arrogance doesn't work around here'," she said.

A prison source said he had been advised to consider a haircut to look less conspicuous. His appearance has reportedly drawn attention already, with one inmate allegedly shouting, "You're not a superstar in here, Brand."

The source warned that his fame could put him at risk even if he provoked no one. "He's probably the most high-profile prisoner in the country, and he doesn't possess the skills needed to survive in that environment," the source said.

"If he tries to be too clever, he'll get lamped," the source added. The source suggested other inmates could target Brand simply because of who he is and the offenses he was convicted of.

Prison officials have had to weigh how to protect him since he arrived. His conviction, his public profile and the reaction from other prisoners have reportedly made his placement a difficult decision.

Less than a year ago, Brand was appearing at a luxury hotel in Texas, where an audience heard him introduced as an "award-winning comedian, actor, author, and public thought leader."