David Baddiel praises Cohen bravery

David Baddiel has praised Sacha Baron Cohen for his bravery in the creation of Brüno, the title character of his current number one film.

The comedian said that Cohen's work was "madly confrontational" and that his stunts could have resulted in him being attacked and injured.

Baddiel told The Times: "As well as the straight laughter that his films elicit, there is another kind, more like a gasp or a jaw-drop. Brüno is his most shocking film so far, not because of its 'offensiveness', but in terms of the danger he puts himself into.

"Sacha Baron Cohen is the Mossad of comedy. Fearless, up for a fight, havoc-causing, secretive, and often, p**sing a lot of people off."

He added: "He plays with a lot of stereotypes in his work, but the one he has turned around is his own, the idea of the Jewish comedian as a version of Woody Allen - neurotic, shy, talky.

"He is the anti-nebbish. I just hope he doesn't end up at war with Iran."