Russell Brand trial latest: Celebrity was ‘ruthless, calculating and manipulative’ sexual predator, court told

Russell Brand will go on trial today charged with a string of alleged sex offences against six women in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The comedian, 51, denies the three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault.

The trial is due to get under way at Southwark Crown Court this morning with the prosecution to open its case to a jury of eight men and four women.

The former Big Brother’s Big Mouth presenter is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker, it emerged at a previous hearing.

The jurors in the trial were selected at a court hearing on Tuesday, when they were warned by Mr Justice Bennathan to ignore past reporting on the celebrity.

Brand, who lives in Florida, became one of Britain’s best-known comedians in the 2000s and won presenting roles including the 2007 Brit Awards, Comic Relief and the MTV Music Video Awards, and hosted his own show on BBC Radio 2.

The trial is scheduled to last six to eight weeks.

Don't research the allegations, judge warns jurors

Jurors were all warned by the judge on Monday to ignore past reporting about Russell Brand and the allegations of sexual misconduct he has faced in recent years.

“Don’t carry out any research,” Mr Justice Bennathan told them on Tuesday.

“Heaven knows what’s out there.

“If you want to, you could go and have a look – but only once you have returned your verdicts.”

On Monday, the judge started with 50 prospective jurors, before excusing six.

In the second stage of the selection process, 20 possible jurors were selected and sent away for the night to check they were free to sit on a trial that is expected to last six weeks, but could stretch to nine weeks.

Jane Dalton14 October 2026 09:01

Brand denies rape and sex assault charges over 10 years

Russell Brand, 51, is accused of groping women and forcing them into sexual acts, in allegations which date from 1999 to 2009.

He denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault, made by six women.

At previous hearings, it was said Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.

Jane Dalton14 October 2026 09:00

The proceedings in court as case opens

A jury of eight men and four women will take their places in a courtroom at Southwark Crown Court today as Russell Brand’s trial begins.

Riel Karmy-Jones KC will be prosecuting for the crown.

A former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, she is expected to set out the full details of the allegations against Brand – three charges of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.

A reserve juror has been selected to sit through the prosecution opening.