The Trews (Russell Brand)

The Trews
The Trews logo featuring Brian the dog
Genre	News, Politics, Comedy
Created by	Russell Brand Gareth Roy
Presented by	Russell Brand
Opening theme	The Rubberbandits
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	367
Production
Producer(s)	Gareth Roy
Running time	Varies (6-20 minutes)
Release
Original network	The Trews on YouTube
Original release	27 February 2014 – Currently running

The Trews is a YouTube web series by English comedian, actor and activist Russell Brand. The Trews features Brand and his take on media as it appears in newspapers or on television, as well as special episodes in which Brand responds to comments left by viewers. The show's name is a portmanteau of "true" and "news".

The show is generally a solo piece to camera supplemented with clips and screenshots from the media, but at times also features interviews with celebrities, activists and other guests. Notable guests have included Alain de Botton, Alasdair Campbell and George Monbiot.

Brand's status as a comedian delivering political commentary has led to comparisons to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, though Brand's approach is more "low-key." The series is typically filmed in a casual style at Brand's house in the Shoreditch district in the East End of London or in the car with Brand. According to journalist Kristian Markus, the format establishes "an intimate connection with his viewers, portraying himself not as some impenetrably pristine star fans are only to admire from a distance, but as a fellow citizen of the world who seeks connection with the people and world outside." A few episodes have been filmed at rallies, where Brand interviews activists about their causes.

The series is produced, directed and edited by Gareth Roy, a producer who has worked on other projects with Brand.

The show debuted on 27 February 2014. With few exceptions and the 2015-16 hiatus period, a new episode is uploaded each weekday. The show's premise, according to Brand, is to provide "the true news so you don't have to invest any money in buying newspapers that charge you for the privilege of keeping your consciousness imprisoned in a tiny box of ignorance and lies."

A theme song for the show, performed by The Rubberbandits, debuted in April 2014. The show's logo features Brian, a white Alsatian dog, that belongs to Brand's ex-girlfriend, journalist and activist Jemima Khan.