Showbiz journalist and broadcaster Leigh Purves has described feeling "very uncomfortable" around Russell Brand during his rise to fame, recounting her experiences on BBC Breakfast.
Appearing on the programme with presenters Roger Johnson and Sarah Campbell, Purves said she met Brand on several occasions while working as a reporter at events and various launches.
Early Fame and Rapid Success
Purves recalled that Brand rose to fame in the early 2000s while working at Channel 4 and the BBC before achieving success in Hollywood. She noted that his early career was marked by broadcasters "throwing money at him" and people "throwing themselves at him."
"He was absolutely huge," Purves said. "I first met Russell Brand in 2005 when he was hosting a programme on a channel called E4. Throughout the time he really rose to fame very quickly."
She added: "He went through the ranks of TV. Everyone was throwing money at him. Broadcasters couldn't get enough of him. He was very talented with stand up."
Unpredictable Behaviour
When asked about her impressions of Brand at the time, Purves described his behaviour as unpredictable and said she found certain situations unsettling.
"I found things very uncomfortable around Russell Brand. Nothing physical ever happened, may I add, however, I worked with quite a lot of female reporters at the time," she explained.
"Whenever there was a launch of a product or an event of his we would sort of look at each other and ask if a male colleague could go and do it instead."
Purves continued: "I personally found him very unpredictable. I think it was that combined with me being slightly sceptical about who he actually was. Watching him, perhaps, lurch around the audience on live TV and choose who he would sit next to and how he would make that person feel just made me feel very, very uncomfortable."
Guilty Verdict
Brand has been found guilty on one count of rape and three sexual assaults. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday.
