Comic hinted at Russell Brand ‘victims’ as they filmed show

Russell Brand’s alleged sexual offending was such an ‘open secret’ in the British entertainment industry that fellow comedians confronted him on camera six years ago.

Russell Brand, left, with Katherine Ryan. Picture: The Times

Russell Brand’s alleged sexual offending was such an “open secret” in the British entertainment industry that fellow comedians confronted him on camera six years ago.

Brand, 48, who has been accused of rape and sexual assault, which he denies, was publicly chastised about allegations in 2017 when he appeared as a judge on the first series of the Comedy Central show Roast Battle.

It can be revealed that one of those who confronted Brand was his co-host Katherine Ryan, who has used interviews to describe her criticism of an unnamed “predator” in British television.

Ryan’s comments about her confrontation with an unidentified man over his alleged behaviour provoked discussion around the prevalence of #MeToo sexual abuse and harassment issues in the entertainment industry.

Katherine Ryan attends the National Television Awards 2023. Picture: Getty

Brand was eventually dropped from the second series of Roast Battle by the production company Fulwell 73 because of “unrest” linked to rumours about his behaviour towards women.

In each episode of the programme, which was broadcast for four series until 2020, two pairs of guest comedians would verbally joust, with a panel of judges picking the winner. Guest comedians were told to make jokes at the expense of the three judges – Brand, Ryan and Jimmy Carr – and were told that “nothing was off-limits”.

Sources said that jokes about Carr focused on his tax avoidance, while Ryan was mocked for having had cosmetic surgery. But the jokes about Brand had a much darker undertone, with comedians – including Ryan – referring to rumours of allegations against him.

In one joke, Ryan described how it was good to see Brand “looking so good”, before adding: “I will remind you of that if any victims come out.” Another joke by Ryan referenced his marriage to the pop star Katy Perry and how he dumped her by text.

On the first day, two episodes were filmed back to back. “After the show finished, Brand was furious that those two things had been said to him,” a source said.

Russell Brand leaves the Troubabour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London after performing a comedy set. Picture: Getty

Brand was described as being enraged by the personal jibes. He is understood to have threatened not to return to filming if they continued.

Several sources from the show said that Roast Battle producers encouraged other comedians not to mock Brand. They are not understood to have specified jokes relating to women.

“I believe that if anyone had still done it [mock Brand about his sexual behaviour], he could walk immediately with full pay,” another source said.

Fulwell 73 did not respond to questions about Brand’s contract.

Hannah Chambers, then Brand’s agent, was an associate producer on the first series. It was filmed in autumn 2017 and broadcast in early 2018.

Sources close to Fulwell 73 said that no formal complaints about Brand were made around the filming and that serious allegations against him were not known. However, they acknowledged that a “rumour mill” about Brand was in existence at the time, which resulted in an “ickiness around him”.

The “unrest about his personality” is said to have been a contributing factor when he was not offered a contract to appear in the second series.

Brand has been targeted by several other comedians who have alluded to his behaviour towards women as part of their stand-up sets.

In Backstage with Katherine Ryan, released on Amazon Prime last year, she first spoke of an unnamed celebrity who she had confronted during filming. “I called him a predator to his face and in front of everyone that day,” she said.

In November, she spoke to Louis Theroux for his Interviews series, and said that this man’s alleged behaviour was an “open secret” in the industry.

Fulwell 73, Comedy Central, Ryan and Brand were approached for comment. Brand has denied allegations of sexual assault and said, in a video posted online on Friday night, that all of his relationships have been consensual.

The Times