Russell Brand's final major UK television role on Comedy Central's Roast Battle ended after his famous co-star reportedly called him a sexual predator, according to reports. The 51-year-old comedian faces a "significant" prison sentence after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, November 5.
Brand has been largely absent from British television screens since his appearance on Roast Battle, a programme presented by Jimmy Carr in which comedians attempt to 'roast' one another. He was hired as a judge in 2018 but remained for only one series.
Katherine Ryan's Alleged Confrontation
Deadline reports that sources connected to Fulwell 73, the production company behind the programme, stated that fellow comedian Katherine Ryan confronted Brand during filming, though this did not appear in the broadcast version. Ryan has previously discussed challenging an unnamed colleague on Roast Battle.
During an appearance on BBC series Louis Theroux Interviews, she revealed: "I - in front of loads of people, in the format of the show - said to this person's face that they are a predator." The 43-year-old comedian explained to Louis that she did not identify her colleague because it was a "litigious minefield" and she had not personally been assaulted by him.
Behind-the-Scenes Tensions
An insider claimed that Brand was "absolutely furious" about being targeted by Ryan, while other sources suggested he insisted producers shield him from being roasted by other comedians, reports the Daily Star. Regarding the decision to remove Brand from the second series, a source revealed: "Contract negotiations were made as tricky as possible, is the best way to put it. In the end, it came down to the fact that it seemed like Russell didn't have a good sense of humour. He didn't feel he was fair game."
Roast Battle marked Brand's final major regular television role in Britain. While he did feature on Channel 4's The Great Celebrity Bake Off in 2019, subsequent appearances have been infrequent until allegations surfaced in the media in September 2023.
Conviction and Aftermath
The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme collectively disclosed that four women had accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. Following publication of the story, police began examining additional complaints regarding Brand's behaviour. More women came forward with further allegations, and when his trial commenced on October 14 this year, he was facing seven charges.
He was cleared of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault, while being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Following his conviction, police confirmed they are examining two additional rape allegations against the father-of-three. Police encouraged other potential victims to contact them.
Det Supt Andy Furphy, from the Metropolitan Police, stated he anticipates more women will now step forward. He said: "I think it's likely - potentially - that other women will come forward. They'll probably gain some courage and some confidence from what's happened in the courtroom over the last two weeks." A representative for Katherine has been approached for comment. Brand will receive his sentence on Monday, November 9.
