Noel Fielding has said he was "horrified and deeply disturbed" to learn of Russell Brand's crimes, insisting the pair were "never friends" and only "played it up" for the cameras. The Great British Bake Off star broke his silence after Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 10-and-a-half years behind bars.
Fielding breaks silence on Brand conviction
In a fresh statement, Fielding said: "I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand's crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge.
"My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.
"I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one. I have had no contact with him for many years.
"Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him I was appalled. They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them."
On-screen partnership and last appearance
Brand and Fielding appeared together on numerous shows over the years, forming a partnership on the Big Fat Quiz of the Year and becoming known as The Goth Detectives. Despite appearing on radio, TV and live charity gigs together, Fielding now claims the pair were never friends.
The pair were last seen on-screen together in 2019 for a special episode of the Great British Bake Off to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer, filmed in 2018. Brand was a contestant on the special episode, while Fielding was hosting.
Unearthed radio clip resurfaces
It comes after an unearthed radio clip showed the pair joking about trying to determine the age of an insect. The 2007 episode of The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2 saw Fielding ask: "How do you even know if it's a child or an adult? You don't even care, do you?"
Brand said: "It's a mistake I've made. I've had enough problems in the past, because I thought a grasshopper was above age."
He continued: "Before I know it, I'm in it, right, I'm kissing it, I'm holding it. Then it turns around and looks at me with its eyes and says, 'I'm 12'."
Fielding could be heard laughing as Brand said: "It's a grasshopper, it's a grasshopper, so."
Another exchange saw Brand talk about a young girl being brought into their hypothetical gothic household, warning Fielding: "Don't say rape when we're left alone with a 15-year-old girl."
