Comedian to face seven charges in October

Russell Brand’s trial on seven counts of rape and sexual assault will take place in October, a London judge has said today.

He had been due to stand trial on five charges in June, but with two additional counts added in December,  Judge Joel Bennathan said the trial would now start on October 12 and take up to eight weeks.

The former comedian has denied all charges – which relate to six women for incidents said to have taken place from 1999 to 2009.

Brand, 50,  was not required to appear at Southwark Crown Court for today’s preliminary hearing, and did not attend.  The above picture shows him arriving at court for a previous session.

Published: 30 Mar 2026