But shows still available on BBC and Netflix

Channel 4 has axed all programmes featuring Russell Brand from its  streaming service.

Big Brother’s Big Mouth and the celebrity episode of The Great British Bake Off featuring the comic have been pulled after the broadcaster’s Dispatches documentary aired serious allegations of sexual misconduct – including rape – made against Brand.

The comic turned YouTuber has vehemently denied the claims, saying that although he was promiscuous at the height of his fame, all his encounters were consensual.

Channel 4 says it is investigating claims made against Brand while he was employed on their programmes. 

The BBC – where he worked as a radio presenter between 2006 and 2008 – and production company Banijay, which bought up Big Brother makers Endemol, have also launched inquiries. 

However, an 2018 episode of QI featuring Brand as a panellist and a Joe Wicks podcast from 2021 on which he guested are still available on BBC iPlayer. 

Netflix as also been urged by Tory MP Caroline Nokes to remove Brand’s 2018 stand-up special Re:Birth from its platform, but the show remains online. 

The last few dates of his current Bipolarisation tour are also still being promoted. He is due to play the Theatre Royal Windsor tomorrow, Plymouth Pavilions nn Friday and Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Saturday 28th.

Chortle has approached all the venues for comment, but none has yet given a response.

Brand appeared on stage at the Troubadour Wembley Park theatre on Saturday evening, just after the allegations against him were made public.

He received a standing ovation as he took to the stage, with one woman carrying a banner saying:  ‘'We stand by you, Russell. Stay strong, stay free. We love you xx.'

The comic reportedly told the audience: ‘I really appreciate your support. I love you. I want to do a fantastic show for you.

'I've got a lot to talk to you about. There are obviously some things I absolutely cannot talk about and I appreciate that you will understand. I love you lot already. I'm going to give you everything I've got.’

The Trevi Women & Children’s Charity has also severed links with Brand, who has helped promote their work and raise money through his drug recovery charity, the Stay Free Foundation.

The charity said it had been ‘deeply saddened and upset’ by the allegations. 

Before Dispatches aired its investigation, conducted with the Sunday Times, the comic released a video saying he was  at the centre of ‘very serious allegations’ about his sexual conduct – but that  he ‘refutes’ them all.

He claimed the mainstream media had conspired to  launch an attack on him because they don’t like him criticising their ‘narratives’ and telling his followers there is ‘another agenda at play’.

Brand’s video has been viewed 66million times on his social media platforms. Read his response in full here.

Four women, including one who was 16 at the time, claimed they were sexually assaulted by Brand between 2006 and 2013. One, a Los Angeles based businesswoman, says the comedian raped her at his Hollywood home and went to a rape treatment centre  afterwards, but did not report it to police. 

More women have come forward to journalists with allegations following this weekend’s coverage, with The Times saying they are  being ‘rigorously checked’.

His father Ron, 80, today spoke out in support of his son, accusing the media of having a ‘vendetta’ in broadcasting the ‘unproven’ allegations.

Published: 18 Sep 2023