But apologises to one worker for not investigating complaint

Channel 4 has said it can find 'no evidence' that its management team were aware of any accusations of sexual misconduct by Russell Brand while he worked for them.

The broadcaster aired serious complaints about the comedian – including rape and sexual assault – in a Dispatches documentary last September and immediately launched an inquiry into what people at Channel 4 previously knew.

It has also been revealed today that one former Channel 4 employee made a 'serious and concerning allegation' about Brand in 2009 - but this was not passed on to senior bosses. 

Brand has strenuously denied all the allegations, which he says are part of a campaign to discredit him by the mainstream media.

Channel 4 investigators studied 11,984 emails and 333 files of archived hard copy documents, and approached 88 current and former employees approached for interview, although it is not known how many were conducted.

They have now reported back to say they found no evidence to suggest the channel knew of any allegations about Brand’s behaviour while he was a presenter on Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Kings of Comedy between 2004 and 2007. 

The broadcaster even challenged a finding in its own documentary, saying: ‘No evidence was found to substantiate the allegation in the programme that Russell Brand’s behaviour had been discussed in a commissioning meeting in 2014.’

They also said there was ‘no written or corroborated evidence to show that suspicions of serious allegations about Russell Brand’s behaviour were held’ at the time the comedian appeared in a Celebrity Bake Off Stand Up to Cancer special recorded in autumn 2018 and broadcast in March 2019.

Eight months later the channel formally  commissioned the Dispatches programme.

In a statement today, the broadcaster said:  ‘In the many years since the alleged incidents took place, there have been extensive changes in Channel 4’s management and commissioning teams as well as in the organisation’s implementation of a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour.  Today, rigorous safeguarding policies and whistleblowing support ensures staff and suppliers can report concerns anonymously and confidentiality.’

Following broadcast of the Dispatches programme, Channel 4 received two new reports alleging misbehaviour by Brand.

They said investigators were unable to substantiate one, made anonymously, while the second, relating to an incident in 2009,  ‘was not passed up Channel 4’s senior management chain, nor investigated as it ought to have been’.

Sir Ian Cheshire, chair of Channel 4 said in response to the report: ‘The board is satisfied that no Channel 4 employees were aware of the deeply disturbing alleged behaviour contained in Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches. 

‘However, we consider it clear that a serious allegation about Russell Brand was made in 2009 by a then serving member of staff which was not properly investigated nor escalated to Channel 4’s then senior management.

‘The investigation’s recommendations, which are accepted in full, will further strengthen Channel 4’s already rigorous safeguarding processes to further protect and uphold the welfare of all employees and those that the channel works with.’

Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, added: ‘While the investigation did not find any evidence to suggest that any Channel 4 employees were aware of Russell Brand’s alleged behaviour contained in the programme, it did find that one former Channel 4 employee made a serious and concerning allegation about Russell Brand in 2009. 

‘This was not escalated to Channel 4’s then senior management team, nor investigated as it should have been. I have apologised on behalf of the organisation to the individual for this breakdown and for the distress this matter has caused.

‘In my view, it is a matter of regret for our industry that repugnant behaviours were tolerated – and indeed appeared on-air – in the past. 

‘Production staff, employees and suppliers should never experience inappropriate behaviour. Channel 4 and I are committed to creating an environment where if any employee or person working on a Channel 4-commissioned show feels uncomfortable about behaviour towards them, then processes are in place for investigation and for appropriate action to be taken.

‘I commend the journalists involved in reporting the allegations and the people who have bravely come forward. Channel 4 has reported on itself without fear and investigated our own historical corporate responsibility thoroughly. 

‘While there is always more to be done, I am confident about the changes that have taken place in our industry over recent years, and it should now be clear that inappropriate and offensive behaviour has no place in it. I hope these issues can ultimately lead to further positive change."

A summary of the report including its terms of reference, findings and recommendations can be read here and the report's findings have been passed to the Metropolitan Police. 

Channel 4 has also asked Banijay – the production company who produced the programme – to investigate the allegations.

Published: 21 Mar 2024