TV icon Russell Brand pays surprise visit to Homebaked Anfield – and gives volunteer Mildred a kiss!

Staff and customers at one of the city’s best-loved bakeries got a surprise visit from TV funny man Russell Brand.

The comedian and mental health activist called into Homebaked Anfield yesterday during a ‘Liverpool pilgrimage’ – and insisted on treating everyone to a pie!

Homebaked posted on Facebook: “Wow! We’ve had worse Wednesdays.

“Just as the lunchtime rush had finished, a famous face walks through the door and offers to buy everyone a pie! Totally unexpected and Totally brilliant.

“Hope you enjoyed your Vegan Scouse, Russell Brand – thank you for visiting us here at Homebaked Bakery and for being so great with us and all of our customers.”

Russel Brand posts photos of Anfield visit on Facebook

Russell Brand, 47, is currently on a UK tour performing stand-up on ‘the strangeness of the last 18 months’, appearing last night and Tuesday night at the Liverpool Playhouse.

But for Homebaked the ‘strangeness’ came when he found time to take a mini-tour of the city yesterday, with stops at Everton and Liverpool football clubs, and took time out for a lunchbreak.

And he was especially taken with one of Homebaked’s popular staff members, Mildred, getting on bended knee and kissing the much-loved helper on the hand.

On his own Facebook post, he wrote: “My Liverpool pilgrimage. Two great clubs, a 93-year-old Queen – Mildred (who still VOLUNTEERS at a community bakery) and a damn good vegan Scouse pie.”

On Twitter Homebaked wrote: “Just your ordinary lunchtime here at Oakfield Road…!”

After beginning his career as a comedian and later becoming a presenter, Brand moved into acting, with his first major film role in 2007 in St Trinian’s, followed by a lead role in the romantic comedy-drama, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and many others.

Over recent years the flamboyant comedian has become a public activist and campaigner, and has spoken on a wide range of political and cultural issues, including wealth inequality, addiction, corporate capitalism, and climate change, as well as mental health.