CHEEKY Russell Brand met the Dalai Lama yesterday — and boasted about his SEX LIFE.
The ex-junkie had Tibet’s celibate spiritual leader in fits of giggles as they made an unlikely double-act in front of 11,000 people.
At one stage the Buddhist monk, 76, wagged his finger at the wacky charmer and then playfully tugged his beard.
Comedian Brand, 37, bragged how he’d won The Sun’s Shagger of the Year award three times. He told the crowd at Manchester’s MEN Arena: “Some of you might be surprised to see me here. I’ve gone from being Shagger of the Year three times to introducing the Dalai Lama.
“It has certainly been an interesting journey. The Dalai Lama told me ‘We are all just people’ and I’ve taken that on board as I was very nervous meeting him.”
The Nobel Peace Prize winner laughed at Brand’s humour.
He said: “Some people told me before to listen to this strange person’s explanations.
“I was surprised but I think your openness is wonderful.”
The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, is on a UK tour to spread his inspirational message. Stand-up comic and actor Brand was at the venue to introduce a speech by the leader about young people.
In his address, the Dalai Lama praised the UK as a place of tolerance. He said: “Britain should be very proud of its place in the world. It is known as a country which stands up against racism and intolerance and it has provided a haven for those fleeing torture and oppression.”
Brand said he’d taken on board the Dalai Lama’s message by forgiving Graham Norton for making his mum Barbara cry. She was in the audience for a recording of Norton’s BBC1 show last week and got upset when the presenter mentioned Brand’s marriage split from US singer Katy Perry, 27.
He accused Norton of stabbing him in the back in the clash which was not screened.
Brand told the Dalai Lama: “Someone was rude to me. I was angry. I can forgive the human being but not the action. Your speech has been really good for me.”
