Bill Bailey took a swipe at convicted rapist Russell Brand during his stand-up comedy tour at Swansea Building Society Arena on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The 61-year-old comedian and musician performed his show Vaudevillean to a Welsh audience, blending comedy with music.
A Biblical Reference on Stage
Bailey made his entrance from a velvet-curtained box while leafing through the pages of a Bible, a clear nod to Brand, who was recently convicted of rape and sexual assault and is due to be sentenced on Monday. Addressing the crowd, Bailey quipped: "If thou is a wrong-un, they will be banged up."
Bailey and Brand have worked together in the past, with Bailey appearing as a prominent guest on The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2. During the noughties, both also appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Channel 4's The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
Brand's Courtroom Bible
Brand famously carried a Bible into Southwark Crown Court during his trial and prominently featured it during public appearances. He was also called out for his "performative" display of Christianity after appearing on Piers Morgan's Uncensored, where Morgan asked him to identify the specific Bible passages he had been reading and taking to court. Brand then struggled to find the relevant Book of Isaiah verse, leafing through the book in silence for over a minute before eventually landing on a verse he deemed "good enough".
Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault in allegations dating back to 1999. The judge warned him that he faces a "significant" term behind bars as he was remanded to HMP Wandsworth.
Family and Other Set Material
His wife Laura Gallacher stood by him throughout the trial and was said to be "devastated" upon hearing the guilty verdicts. People close to Gallacher have said she feels "her world has been turned upside down" and she's "living in a nightmare". She is said to be planning to move their three young children from their Florida home to the UK while the star serves his sentence.
Donald Trump also featured prominently in Bailey's set, with the comedian weaving quotes from the US president into a song performed on a mixing board.
