Richard Osman has spoken out against Russell Brand, describing him as "a sleaze" and "sex obsessed" following the comedian's conviction for rape and sexual assault. The former House of Games presenter made the comments on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, while admitting he never worked with or met Brand.
Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison on November 9, 2026, after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court. The conviction followed a four-week trial in which several anonymous women gave testimonials about their experiences with the disgraced star.
Osman's Criticism of Brand
Osman, 55, revealed that although he has never met Brand, he was put off by the "sex obsessed" persona presented to the public. Speaking on the podcast, he said: "I've never worked with him, never met him; right from the beginning, I thought he was awful."
He added: "I thought he was talentless, all of that, but that's fine; none of that is illegal. But I'm not interested in working with him. I can't think of any actual comedy producer who'd be particularly interested in working with him because there's nothing there."
Comments on Brand's Character
Osman continued: "The only thing that is there is himself. It's not someone who can be collegiate. So, I definitely knew that about him," adding that as Brand became more famous, "you'd certainly hear that he was a sleaze".
He said: "Again, not illegal, not nice. Again, not someone you would want to work with, not someone who I can think of anyone I know who particularly want to work with. But the guy's a sleaze and the guy is sex obsessed and the guy runs around with a group of people who have that same aesthetic."
Jonathan Ross Responds
Jonathan Ross has become one of the first high-profile figures who was once close to Brand to share his response to the events. In a statement, 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."
