The BBC has expressed regret to employees who felt unable to voice their concerns regarding Russell Brand’s conduct during his tenure at the corporation.
The organization revealed that it had addressed eight allegations of misconduct – of which only two were lodged during the presenter’s employment.
Furthermore, it admitted that it was “evident” that several presenters previously exploited their positions.
Brand, aged 49, has vigorously denied any accusations leveled against him, insisting that all his intimate relationships were “absolutely always consensual”.
This apology was issued as the BBC unveiled the outcomes of a comprehensive internal review regarding how it managed complaints, which cost £662,000. The focus was on the comedian’s engagements with 6 Music and Radio 2 from 2006 to 2008.
Peter Johnston, the BBC’s director of editorial complaints and reviews who conducted the investigation, discovered that numerous staff members felt “unable to bring up” concerns and believed Brand “would always prevail, leading them to remain silent”.
Mr. Johnston acknowledged that the “culture of that era undeniably shaped what was deemed acceptable/tolerated” but pointed out that “the mechanisms for raising concerns were not as advanced as they are currently”. He confirmed that the BBC has since made strides in enhancing these protocols.
Russell Brand commenced his journey with the BBC as a regular host for 6 Music in April 2006 before transitioning to Radio 2 in November of that same year. He hosted a regular program on the station until his departure in 2008 due to a “serious breach” when he made a prank call to actor Andrew Sachs from Fawlty Towers.
His recruitment was “understood (by those eager to employ him) to involve editorial risks, given the character of his comedic acts and material, but aligned with the station’s strategy at the time” – which aimed to entice younger audiences and introduce presenters with significant profiles, according to the review.
Brand was invited to take part in the review, said Mr. Johnston, “but declined the invitation”.
The review was initiated following a joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches program alongside The Times and Sunday Times, released in 2023, during which four women alleged that Brand sexually assaulted and abused them between 2006 and 2013.
In reaction to the report, the BBC stated: “When allegations surfaced concerning Russell Brand in 2023, related to his work at the BBC, it was crucial that this matter was examined thoroughly. This investigation has been performed with the utmost care.
“We wish to express our gratitude to those individuals who contributed, as we acknowledge that discussing some of the issues the review examines has been challenging.”
“The review evaluated eight allegations of misconduct regarding Russell Brand, of which only two were made during his tenure at the BBC—one formally and one informally. It is deeply concerning that some individuals felt unable to voice their concerns regarding Russell Brand’s actions at that time, and the BBC has issued an apology to them as part of this review.
“It is also apparent that there were compliance deficiencies in some of Russell Brand’s Radio 2 broadcasts, resulting in content being aired that would not conform to current standards. Russell Brand departed from the BBC in 2008 following a prominent editorial infraction.
“As reported, a police inquiry into Russell Brand is currently in progress. The BBC has maintained communication with the Metropolitan police throughout the review process, and they have reviewed the report. The BBC acknowledges that Russell Brand categorically refutes all public allegations against him.”
In November, the Met Police indicated they had submitted a dossier of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
A man in his 40s was interviewed multiple times under caution concerning allegations of historical sexual offenses, the police stated at that time.
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