Jonathan Ross has released a statement saying he is 'horrified' by the allegations surrounding David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand.
Walliams, 55, was named on Tuesday as the subject of a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, after unsuccessfully attempting to obtain an injunction to prevent the publication of allegations against him. The former comedian and TV star has been accused of sexual misconduct, including alleged grooming of teenagers and abusing his position of power. He denies all allegations against him.
Ross's statement
Ross, 65, who appeared in a photograph featured in the investigation's accompanying ITV documentary, David Walliams: Power and Silence, issued a statement to the Press Association. He said: 'I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation.'
'There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct. My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.'
Background and past controversies
In recent days, The Jonathan Ross Show has come under fire for featuring both Ross and Brand, who was jailed for over 10 years for rape and sexual assault on Monday. Ross also appeared on several television shows alongside Brand and featured on his BBC Radio 2 show in 2008, when the pair became embroiled in a scandal involving Georgina Baillie.
The incident, dubbed 'Sachsgate', saw the pair leave a voicemail for her grandfather, actor Andrew Sachs, during which they made explicit comments about a relationship she had with Brand.
Addressing the 2004 joke
Ross has also addressed a joke he made at the Comedy Awards in 2004, insisting he did not write the punchline. He said: 'I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15-year-old.'
'This joke was submitted to me by the Comedy Awards script writing team and I believed that the punchline was a reference to the fact he had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect. It is also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today about anyone, but that is beside the point.'
'Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him. I also like to think that I would have acted upon that knowledge.'
