A 2007 clip of Russell Brand touching Lorraine Kelly's thigh on The Graham Norton Show has resurfaced after the disgraced comic was jailed for 10 years and six months for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
The daytime TV presenter said she felt "uncomfortable" watching the footage back, during which Brand made a lewd comment about her clothing.
Resurfaced Graham Norton Show footage
In the clip, the former actor was asked about his film work before reaching over to touch the presenter's thigh. "You're wearing suspenders, Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed. "I've taken off more than I can chew. I'm out of my depth."
Lorraine laughed and attempted to quieten him before Brand pressed on: "Yes, I have been in other films but it doesn't seem so important now I know Lorraine Kelly's a s**t."
Lorraine Kelly's response
Lorraine spoke out against Brand following his conviction last week, saying she didn't think "anyone was surprised" about the guilty verdict. "He was famous for being Russell Brand, and that was almost something that people used in his defence," she continued. "It was like, 'that's just Russell'."
The 66-year-old revisited the footage back in 2023, following the explosive Dispatches documentary on Brand that covered allegations of rape and sexual assault. The claims featured in the programme did not form part of his criminal investigation and were never proven, with Brand himself denying them.
However, the documentary did spark a police investigation and encouraged further women to come forward, which ultimately led to his conviction.
Reflecting on the clip
Reflecting on the clip during her own show, Lorraine explained she had laughed along because everyone else was and because it was the comedian's "schtick". Yet she admitted feeling "uncomfortable" looking back on it 16 years later. "I usually got the charming Russell, the flirty Russell," Lorraine said, before viewing the old footage.
Following the resurfaced footage, she said: "That's uncomfortable to watch now, it absolutely is. Obviously, for the record, I was not wearing suspenders at all.
"He was laughing, I was laughing. It's difficult looking back on it, and now I probably would have said something, but it's an entertainment show, that was his shtick."
Multiple celebrities had highlighted the rapist's conduct prior to his conviction. Brand's former wife Katy Perry described him as "very controlling" and "really hurtful" during a 2013 interview. Sean Lock stated he "hated him" while appearing on 8 out of 10 Cats, while Vanessa Feltz alleged he made a crude remark about her and her 15-year-old daughter.
