He was never a satirist. At the start of his career his jokes seemed to revolve primarily around sex and how good he apparently is at it, so to many critics, he doesn’t belong in the political arena. But Russell was not always a womanising stand up comedian, and he is so much more than his ‘job’. As a drug addict many years ago, he has experienced life at the bottom of the pile of society, and this gives him great empathy with vulnerable people. He may live the life of a rich man now, but he is still a “working class boy” from Essex, and he has remained in touch with his roots. His experiences give him a unique perspective on life, he has a real desire to help people, and he has a platform to make a noise when he sees injustice. He has been able to help people who have benefited from his celebrity to back their causes, and he has used his visibility to highlight causes he cares passionately about.