Comedian regrets ‘inappropriate’ jokes he made with Brand during work pair did together in the 2000s
The Great British Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding has said he was “horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes” and has had no contact with his fellow comedian “for many years”.
In the early 2000s, Fielding often worked with Brand, who was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on Monday for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
In a statement issued to the Sun, Fielding said: “I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge. My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.
“I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one. I have had no contact with him for many years.
“Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him, I was appalled. They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”
Footage has recently resurfaced of Fielding and Brand joking about rape with the TV presenter Jonathan Ross on an episode of the Big Fat Quiz of…