Russell Brand is struggling to eat the food at HMP Wandsworth, where he is being held ahead of his sentencing on Monday for rape and sexual assault. The 51-year-old was denied bail at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday and taken to the Category B men's prison in southwest London, which holds more than 1,500 inmates.
Conditions Inside the Jail
Visitors speaking to the Mirror described harsh conditions inside the prison, including what they called "food slop" and prisoners being confined to cells for up to 23 hours a day. One female visitor said her partner, who is inside the jail, has problems with the food and described Wandsworth as "short-staffed".
She told the Mirror: "It's really horrible in there. My partner is vegetarian and they keep giving him chicken. He's also a Muslim and they kept trying to give him pork."
"They're awful. They're really short-staffed so the prisoners are in their cells 23 hours a day a lot of the time."
Brand's Reported Struggles
Another woman, who did not want to be named, said her partner told her that Brand, who became a wellness content creator after his comedy career, was struggling with the food. She said: "My boyfriend told me about Brand being in there. He said Brand doesn't like the food and is struggling to eat it. It's slop."
Inspectorate Report Findings
A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, following inspections in April and May 2024, found serious problems at the prison, including dilapidated cells, vermin and issues with hot water. The document, seen by the Mirror, said living conditions were poor, with 80% of prisoners sharing cells designed for one person.
The report added: "The prison was dirty. Many showers were in poor condition across the prison, and some should have been decommissioned. There were frequent issues with heating and hot water. Numerous cells had damaged furniture, flooring, windows or sinks. Many observation panels were blocked or smashed. Vermin remained a problem in the prison."
It noted that recent intensive work with an outside provider had brought some improvement, but prisoners reported that rodents were still seen frequently, with evidence of rat droppings found across residential units. Inspectors issued an immediate action plan to improve standards. The Mirror has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.
