Russell Brand was ‘touchy-feely’, says TV veteran Sam Armytage

Veteran TV host Sam Armytage has added her voice to the chorus of Aussie journalists sharing unpleasant encounters with a “touchy-feely” Russell Brand.

Veteran TV host Sam Armytage has added her voice to the chorus of Aussie journalists sharing unpleasant encounters with a “touchy-feely” Russell Brand.

Armytage, then a co-host on Seven’s Weekend Sunrise, interviewed Brand when he toured the country in 2009.

She is the first high profile Australian to comment as historical videos surface of fellow reporters Fifi Box and Liz Hayes also enduring uninvited advances from the comedian while interviewing him.

“Obviously he was always rather outrageous in his persona,” Armytage told Confidential.

Samantha Armytage gets a kiss from comedian Russell Brand.

“But I do recall him being very touchy-feely and thinking it was pretty full-on given I didn’t know him.”

The segment was titled ‘The Bombastic Brit’ and labelled an “infamous and intimate encounter”.

“If you was on my tele when I was a teenage boy, it would mess me up,” Brand flirtatiously told Armytage. “I think you are gorgeous.”

Armytage awkwardly thanked Brand for the ‘kind’ compliment and glanced to her notes to divert the conversation to another question.

Brand interjects, while munching on a banana: “It ain’t kind … it is just a bit rude.”

Russell Brand and ex-wife Katy Perry in 2010. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse during a seven-year period, according to the results of a media investigation. (Photo by MAX NASH / AFP)

The exchange comes after separate videos resurfaced of historical encounters between Brand and Hayes, and Box, in the wake of rape and sexual assault claims levelled at the 48-year-old.

A clip from a past segment on Sunrise shows Brand straddling then kissing Box on the cheek as she attempted to interview him for his 2010 film Get Him to the Greek.

Box – who was the breakfast show’s entertainment reporter at the time – could be seen trying to engage Brand in conversation before he walks over to her and sits on her lap to caress her face.

In a 2012 interview with Hayes, Brand could be seen planting a kiss on her lips while trying to unclip her bra as she interviewed him for 60 Minutes.

Russell Brand appeared to pull Hayes close to him before planting a kiss on her lips. Picture: Nine

Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by at least five women, including one who was 16-years-old at the time.

The comedian has denied the allegations.

The remainder of his current tour of the UK has been postponed and sponsors have distanced themselves from Brand.

The BBC has opened an investigation into allegations of sexual assault against its former employee.

Originally published as Russell Brand was ‘touchy-feely’, says TV veteran Sam Armytage