By Andrea Magrath
Last updated at 5:26 PM on 23rd January 2011
The much anticipated reunion of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross for the first time since 'Sachsgate' was to take place at last night's British Comedy Awards.
But instead of hamming it up with his old friend on stage in London last night, a distraught Russell Brand was rushing to New York to be with his close friend who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The comic was scheduled to appear to at the awards show, held at the O2 Arena, to accept a gong for Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy, but was forced to make a hasty video message instead.
Hospital dash: Russell Brand was forced to pull out of last night's British Comedy Awards to rush to his friend's hospital bedside in New York
'Critical': Film producer Martino Sclavi was diagnosed with a brain tumour
Film producer Martino Sclavi and Brand have been friends for years, and the Get Him To The Greek star pays tribute to Sclavi in his first book for helping him to beat his heroin addiction.
Comedy Awards show organisers had earlier announced the 35-year-old had pulled out due to 'unforeseen personal circumstances.'
But Ross soon let fans in on the sad news, tweeting: 'So sad. Was really looking forward to seeing Russell at Comedy Awards but now he can't come.'
'A pal of his is ill and he is staying in NYC to look after him. Russell is an amazing friend. Hope it all turns out OK.'
A spokesperson for the Awards later said: 'We were hoping for some fireworks between Russell and Jonathan. But we understand Russell's position.
Postponed reunion: Awards host Jonathan Ross, who was to appear together with Brand for the first time since 'Sachsgate', confirmed the sad news on Twitter
'He is an honourable man to whom friends are the most important thing.'
In his autobiography My Booky Wook, Brand says the 39-year-old film maker is 'an exceptional man' who 'always encouraged and protected me.'
The pair started production company Vanity Projects in 2001, which put out some of Brand's stand-up DVDs and short-lived TV show Ponderland.
Hospital time: Brand visited children at a paediatric hospital in Los Angeles this week
Despite his personal turmoil, Brand sent a typically cheeky acceptance message via video link during the award show.
Watched by the 20,000 audience members at the O2 and a TV audience of five million, Russell hinted at the scandal which saw him quite his BBC Radio 2 show and Ross suspended for three months in 2008.
He said that even though he spent most of his time now in the U.S. he still managed to keep up with British comedy.
Back to his roots: Brand has been performing stand-up this week at iconic LA Improv Comedy Club
Brand joked: 'I have even found a way to rip off the BBC iPlayer, after all the damage I've done to them already! Haha, Jonathan, what did you do? You were supposed to be a father figure!'
But he added: 'I've never been more proud to be British than since I've come to America.'
Russell has been in Los Angeles this week, performing a three-night live show at the iconic LA Improv Comedy Club on Melrose Avenue.
The shows were filmed for a feature documentary the comedian is making to be released in cinemas.
He was also spotted visiting a paediatric hospital earlier this week and spending time with some young patients.
But he has made a dash to the east coast after hearing the news that his pal had undergone emergency surgery.
A source told the News Of The World that Sclavi had complained of 'searing headaches' on Wednesday.
Doctors performed surgery to remove a tumour on his brain uncovered by a biopsy, and Sclavi is in a critical condition.
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