The BBC has cut a joke about disgraced comedian Russell Brand from the 2008 Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. The move comes after Brand, 56, was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others.
Edited Scene Removes Brand Reference
In the edited scene, the Shipman and West families sit down for Christmas dinner while Nessa (Ruth Jones) tends to baby Neil. When Nessa joins the families at the table, she tells them she has been reading to the baby to help him fall asleep.
“What a little fairy story?” asks Pam, to which Nessa replies: “No. Russell Brand My Booky Wook. He’s loving every minute of it.” After this, the families begin talking about Michael’s impressive cooking skills, but the scene did not originally play out this way.
Original Version Details
In the original version, after Nessa mentioned My Booky Wook, Stacey asked if they got a mention in the book. After Nessa confirmed they did not, Stacey says she is disappointed, after which Nessa replies: “Don’t be, Stace. We had a cracking night, Pam. All three of us.”
The Independent reports that this version of the show was first uploaded in 2023 after the initial Channel 4 documentary exposing Brand aired. However, in a statement at the time, a BBC spokesperson said: “This version was uploaded to BBC iPlayer in error. The original version will be on BBC iPlayer shortly.”
Uncertainty Over Restoration
It is unknown whether the unedited scene was restored in 2023 or if the BBC never put the original version back on iPlayer. My Booky Wook, first published in 2007, was the title of Brand’s first memoir covering his childhood, struggles with addiction and early career. The book was withdrawn from sale and pulled from print by publisher Hodder & Stoughton on November 6, 2026.
Metro has contacted the BBC for comment.
