It's an explosive mix - bad-boy Russell Brand, and tearaway pop princess Britney Spears, filming an advert with an enormous elephant.

The pair, who have both publicly battled their demons, teamed up to film the promotional advert for this years MTV Video Music Awards. They were joined by a 650 stone elephant, which neither appeared to notice... perhaps there's an elephant in the room?

Brand is to present this year's awards next month and in the ad-libbed clip he asks Britney for her advice. The blonde was ridiculed after a disastrous performance opening last year's show.

Getting friendly: Ladies man Russell Brand charms pop princess Britney Spears

But a glamorous Britney took the teasing in good humour, turning the joke on Brand by pretending she didn't know who he was and calling him 'Russell Brown'.

The pair then entered into an improvised Question and Answer session, during which Brand suggested there was a sexual tension between them - 'I didn't feel any tension', she answered.

LL Cool J and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz then joined in the fun, with Cool J calling Brand 'Russell Bland'.

Britney's appearance in the advert has led to rumours that she will be joining the comedian onstage on the night.

Ladies' man Brand would surely welcome this - he told one interviewer 'I'm planning to have lesbian kisses with Britney and Madonna individually. It's not going to be easy with my genitals, but God, I will try.'

There's an elephant in the room... but Britney and Russell haven't noticed

Britney may well be receiving an award on the night. The singer is nominated for Best Female and Best Pop Video for Piece of Me.

Brand, who came to fame presenting Big Brother's Little Brother, is known in America for his small role as Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. But his relative obscurity has led some to question if he is a good choice for the high-profile presenting spot.

Past hosts have included Jack Black, Chris Rock, P Diddy, and Jamie Foxx.

Brand, however is well known to MTV. His first job was as a presenter on English MTV, from which he was fired for turning up dressed as Osama Bin Laden on September 12, 2001.