The key facts

  • Noel Fielding described his old jokes with Russell Brand as 'terrible and inappropriate' and stated he has not been in contact with him for many years.
  • Archival clips from 2007, including Big Fat Quiz of the Year and a BBC Radio 2 programme, have resurfaced.
  • Brand has been sentenced to 10.5 years in prison; new allegations have emerged, and police are investigating claims from two additional women.

Fielding's Statement

Great British Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding told The Sun newspaper that he is 'shocked and deeply concerned' by the news of Russell Brand's crimes, which he said he was unaware of until they became public. According to BBC News, Fielding described his old jokes made alongside Brand, 'terrible and inappropriate' and expressed regret. He also emphasised that he considered his relationship with Brand to be professional rather than personal and has not spoken to him 'for many years'.

Resurfaced Recordings

The statement came after archival recordings resurfaced following Brand's sentencing. Among them is a 2007 episode of Big Fat Quiz of the Year on Channel 4, where Fielding, Brand and presenter Jonathan Ross made jokes about rape. A clip from The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2 from the same year also circulated, in which Brand jokingly referred to 'kissing' a minor 'grasshopper', with Fielding joining in on the joke. Ross also issued a statement, noting that his 'thoughts are with the many women who have bravely come forward'. Fielding and Brand previously performed together at charity concerts as the duo The Goth Detectives.

Sentence and New Allegations

Brand has been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others; he is being held at HMP Wandsworth and denies any non-consensual sexual activity. Following the sentence, new allegations have emerged: more women have spoken about him in interviews with The Times and in a Netflix documentary; The Times explained that it could not publish its investigation until the criminal case concluded. Police have stated they are investigating rape allegations from two additional women. BBC News has requested comment from Brand's legal representatives.

Russell Brand, who has heavily backcombed shoulder-length brown hair, wears black eyeliner, a black shirt and silver necklaces, next to Fielding who has styled shoulder-length black hair and wears a black top with silver necklacesImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Russell Brand (L) pictured with Noel Fielding in 2007

Noel Fielding wears a pink leopard print faux-fur jacket. He is sitting partially reclined against a purple background.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fielding said he was 'appalled' by some of the jokes he had made alongside Brand