The BBC has removed a joke referencing Russell Brand from Gavin and Stacey's 2008 Christmas special on iPlayer, following his conviction for rape and sexual assault.
Brand was convicted on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court last week and sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison. The conviction prompted the BBC to edit out the reference from the episode.
Scene in the Christmas special
In the scene, Nessa returns to the dinner table at Pam and Mick's home after settling Neil the Baby down for the night. She says: "I had to read to him to get him off."
When Pam asks whether she had been reading a fairytale, Nessa replies: "No, Russell Brand: My Booky Wook. He's loving every word." Stacey then asks whether she and Nessa are mentioned in the book, to which Nessa confirms they are not. Stacey says: "That's a shame. I'm quite disappointed, are you?" and Nessa says: "Don't be, Stace. We had a cracking night, Pam. All three of us."
Book pulled from sale
Brand's autobiography, published in 2007, chronicled his numerous sexual encounters, including when he lost his virginity to a sex worker while on holiday with his father. The memoir has since been pulled by UK publishers, with both Pan Macmillan and Hodder & Stoughton confirming the title will no longer be available to purchase.
A spokesperson for Pan Macmillan announced that the publisher is "withdrawing Russell Brand's books from sale following his conviction, and this process is under way now. We recognise the courage it took for those who came forward, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by his crimes."
Other titles and prison placement
The book also spawned a follow-up, My Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal, published in 2010. Brand also released a number of self-help titles, including Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions, Mentors: How to Help and Be Helped, and Revelation: Connecting with the Sacred in Everyday Life, as well as How to Become a Christian in Seven Days.
Since being jailed, Brand would have undergone a strip search upon arriving at prison, with his intake procedure also including health screenings and assessments. His celebrity status means he has been housed in a separate unit, kept apart from the general prison population.
