TWO further complaints have been made since the BBC launched a review into the behaviour of Russell Brand, the corporation has said.
An interim update on the probe published today said the investigation now indicates a total of five complaints have been made directly to the BBC about the comedian,
The nature of the allegations made by the two further complainants have not been specified in the report, but the BBC reported they are understood to relate to his workplace conduct, and are not of a serious sexual nature.
Following an investigation by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches earlier this year, Brand was accused of rape and sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013.
He has denied the allegations and said his relationships were “always consensual”.
It prompted a review being carried out by the BBC's director of editorial complaints and reviews, Peter Johnston, to examine if the corporation’s handling of any complaints about Brand’s conduct at the BBC, particularly for 6 Music and then Radio 2 between 2006-8.
Three complaints which are being probed were made before he was publicly accused of rape and sexual assault, which he denies.
One was first made in 2019 and relates to a previously reported allegation of misconduct while on BBC premises in Los Angeles in 2008.
In his interim report Johnston said: “Our investigations so far indicate a total of five complaints directly to the BBC: two individuals raised complaints and concerns during 2006-8 and raised these issues again after Russell Brand left the BBC.
“A separate complaint was made by another individual after Russell Brand had left the BBC in relation to the 2008 allegation in LA.
“Two further complainants have come forward since the review began. Some others have also come forward to share their observations and to raise general concerns about that period.
“It is also clear from audience feedback that there was a wider concern about the tone and content of some of Russell Brand’s shows.”
The report said the audience complaint numbers were 62 in 2006, with 317 in 2007 and 225 in 2008.
It also highlighted one of the “more widely reported allegations” related to Brand’s use of BBC cars – one claim was that Brand had teenage girls driven to his home using the corporation’s vehicles.
However Johnston said the broadcaster's records of car bookings are no longer available.
“This means that we have not been able to identify the precise details of this or any records or details of specific journeys or bookings made for Russell Brand,” he said.
“We have spoken to a number of individuals who either had knowledge of the BBC car arrangements at the time, or who drove vehicles for the BBC at or around the time.
“No one we have spoken to so far recalls driving Russell Brand at the time.
“Our investigations are continuing.”
