Video taking off 18x its usual first day

David Walliams' "smokescreen" reply resurfaces in Russell Brand interview

Page Six's archival excerpt also features Matt Lucas, with a brief exchange drawing far more views than its usual Shorts.

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Page Six Story of November 12, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 40,357 views a day, 18 times a normal first day on this channel (2,275).

Russell Brand and David Walliams’ uncomfortable gay ‘smokescreen’ joke resurfaces #shorts

Matt Lucas receives a compliment from Russell Brand before the conversation turns to a joke about sexuality. David Walliams supplies the line Page Six has put at the center of its resurfaced clip: "Isn't it a wonderful smokescreen?"

The Short drew about 40,000 views in its first day, nearly eighteen times Page Six's usual start for that format. It is an older television exchange, credited on screen to Channel 4's The Russell Brand Show, rather than a new interview.

The upload comes after Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault and his sentence of ten years and six months in prison. Page Six has also been revisiting other footage of Brand, alongside coverage explaining his imprisonment.

Here, the guests are Walliams and Lucas, the comedy partnership behind Little Britain. Brand jokes about the contrast between appearing gay and being straight, prompting Walliams' "smokescreen" response. Wearing a top hat, Brand tips it and replies: "Isn't it, though? Isn't it glorious?"

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