Noel Fielding apologises for jokes made with convicted Russell Brand

Summarised from 8 outlets · 11 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 16:38 · Archive

Noel Fielding has said he is horrified by Russell Brand's rape conviction and regrets inappropriate jokes they made together.

Russell Brand was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Following his conviction, Noel Fielding issued a statement to The Sun breaking weeks of silence on the matter.

Fielding, the 53-year-old presenter of The Great British Bake Off, said he was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Brand's crimes. He stated that he was completely unaware of them until they became public knowledge. My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice, Fielding said.

The pair had worked together extensively during the 2000s and 2010s, appearing on multiple television panel shows including Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz of the Year, on radio shows, and at live charity events. They were known to comedy audiences under the joint nickname The Goth Detectives, owing to their shared aesthetic.

Fielding characterised their lengthy working relationship as strictly professional rather than personal. He said: 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. He added that he has had no contact with Brand for many years.

After Brand's conviction, uncomfortable footage resurfaced from their past appearances together. A 2007 episode of Big Fat Quiz of the Year showed Brand and Fielding making jokes about rape alongside television presenter Jonathan Ross. Another clip from The Russell Brand Show, which aired on BBC Radio 2 in October 2007, showed them joking about an underage grasshopper.

In response to the resurfaced material, Fielding expressed regret and disapproval of his own conduct. 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, he said. Fielding has not been accused of any wrongdoing and was not linked to Brand's trial and conviction. Jonathan Ross also issued a statement distancing himself from the remarks, saying his thoughts were with the women who had come forward.

How it is being reported

• Noel Fielding 'appalled' by jokes he made with Russell BrandThe Great British Bake Off presenter says he has not been in contact with the convicted rapist "for many years".BBC News · 14 Nov, 14:46
• Noel Fielding breaks silence on Russell Brand to admit ‘regret’ over ‘horrible jokes’Noel Fielding issues statement in wake of Russell Brand’s jail sentence for rape and sexual assaultEvening Standard · 14 Nov, 10:17
• Noel Fielding ‘horrified and deeply disturbed’ by Russell Brand’s crimesComedian 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. Continue reading...Guardian World · 14 Nov, 10:14
• Noel Fielding left 'horrified' by Russell Brand conviction and was 'completely unaware' of crimesNoel Fielding has said he is "horrified and deeply disturbed" by his former friend Russell Brand's rape conviction. The Great British Bake Off presenter, 53, had faced growing pressure to respond after Brand was handed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence earlier this week. In a statement, Mr Fielding said that he had been "completely unaware" of Brand's crimes. The Mighty Boosh creator also characterised their years of collaboration as strictly work-related. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say He told The Sun: "I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand's crimes, which I was…GB News · 14 Nov, 09:16
• Noel Fielding says he and Russell Brand were never friends and haven't been in contact in yearsSpeaking out for the first time, Noel Fielding said that he was 'horrified and deeply disturbed' to learn of Brand's crimes and said that he was 'completely unaware' of them until they became public knowledgeThe Mirror · 14 Nov, 08:12
• Noel Fielding says he is 'horrified and deeply disturbed' by Russell Brand's rape conviction and was 'completely unaware' of his crimesFielding, who appeared on numerous comedy panels with Brand in the noughties, said tonight that his relationship with the disgraced comedian had been 'professional rather than personal'.Daily Mail · 14 Nov, 02:00
• Noel Fielding ‘appalled’ at ‘horrible jokes’ he made with Russell BrandComedian breaks silence after clips resurface of jokes made on 2007 TV show about rapeThe Independent · 13 Nov, 23:35
• Noel Fielding claims he has had ‘no contact’ with Russell Brand for many yearsFielding said he was ‘horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes’.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 23:09
• Noel Fielding claims he’s ‘deeply disturbed’ by Russell Brand’s crimes in first statementNoel Fielding has spoken out after Russell Brand’s conviction (Picture: Greg Allen/Shutterstock) Noel Fielding has broken his silence after the conviction of Russell Brand on rape and sexual abuse charges. The Mighty Boosh creator was facing mounting pressure to address the situation, having…Metro · 13 Nov, 22:08
• Noel Fielding breaks silence on Russell Brand with scathing statementNoel Fielding has spoken out following Russell Brand's conviction. The pair worked together on numerous occasions in the pastThe Mirror · 13 Nov, 21:15
• AMANDA PLATELL: So where is Noel Fielding? He's remained deafeningly silent since the conviction of bestie Russell Brand... but we all remember that sickening rape skitI am bewildered as to why Bake Off is still accommodating and feting the alleged comedian.Daily Mail · 13 Nov, 17:48

In this story: Noel Fielding · Russell Brand · The Great British Bake Off · Jonathan Ross · Channel 4 · BBC Radio 2

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