Rod's fury over daddy of insults

Russell Brand and Rod Stewart were involved in an extraordinary public row after the Channel 4 presenter claimed he had slept with the rock star's daughter.

The outspoken comedian made the claim after reducing the audience of the GQ Man of the Year awards to a stunned silence when he spoke of a police investigation into an alleged "date rape" at his flat in Edinburgh during the Festival.

"I never did a sex attack," he joked. "At the time the alleged sex attack was occurring I was having consensual sex with witnesses. Lovely night it turned out to be."

Brand, 31, presenter of the Big Brother's Big Mouth show, added: "Here's to Rod Stewart who had a go at me earlier this year for too much womanising. But then again I did have a go on his daughter."

Brand, whose previous conquests include Kate Moss, reportedly wined and dined Kimberly Stewart, 27, at London's Cuckoo Club this summer - before taking her back to his north London home.

Stewart, 61, himself a legendary womaniser, immediately launched an angry attack on the comic. On stage at the Royal Opera House to pick up the outstanding achievement award, he said: "You went with my daughter, did you? Russell, stand up." A sheepish Brand stood and mumbled: "I took her out for one evening."

Stewart asked: "Did you behave yourself ?" Brand said: "I never touched that girl." Stewart retorted: "F***ing right you didn't. You musn't come up here and boast. I speak here as a father."

After the ceremony, Brand tried to make amends and they posed for pictures but Stewart later claimed he had no time for the comic. "He's got to be careful," he told the Evening Standard. "He might be a bit of a player but he shouldn't boast. I never did." He added: "Russell's been a bit timid since I had my say."

Police are investigating an allegation by a 20-year-old that she was raped at Brand's flat during the Edinburgh festival. There is no suggestion that Brand is the alleged perpetrator and yesterday he denied any knowledge of the attack.

Brand's big mouth

On himself: "I'm a promiscuous singleton. I am totally obsessed with sex."

On women: "I'm not a difficult lay but I believe women are goddesses and I try to treat them as such"