Russell Brand tells crowd he is ‘blessed’ outside court as actor faces rape charges

Russell Brand said “blessed, thank you very much” as the actor and comedian arrived at court for the second day of his rape and sexual assault trial.

The 51-year-old TV personality is accused of groping women and forcing them into sexual acts, in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009.

Jury selection began at Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning with a warning from judge Mr Justice Bennathan to ignore past reporting about Brand and allegations of sexual misconduct.

On Tuesday the jury is due to be finalised, while the prosecution is expected to open its case on Wednesday morning.

As he arrived at Southwark Crown Court at just after 9.20am, Brand said “blessed, thank you very much” in the direction of photographers and members of the press.

He wore a double-breasted grey suit, an unbuttoned shirt with a long tie, brown boots and sunglasses.

Flanked by his security guard, Brand looked at the cameras pointed at him before taking off his sunglasses as he walked up the steps towards the central London courthouse.

His wife Laura Gallacher, who was by his side for Monday’s hearing, did not accompany Brand outside court on Tuesday morning.

On Monday the judge started with 50 prospective jurors, before swiftly excusing six who said they had either seen a Channel 4 documentary or read a newspaper article in 2023 concerning allegations about Brand.

“About three years ago, there was a TV programme and was a long article in the Times newspaper in which some allegations were made against him of sexual misconduct,” the judge said.

“They were allegations he firmly denied.

“The jury in this trial will hear something about that programme and the allegations in the programme and the newspaper article.

“But we, the lawyers and the judge, all agree if any of you remember as you stand here today watching the Channel 4 documentary or remember reading the article in the Times about three years ago, please put a hand up now.”

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

Brand 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.

Essex-born Brand started out as a stand-up comedian and his showbiz career took off when he was picked to front Big Brother spin-off shows by Channel 4.

He became one of Britain’s best-known comedians in the 2000s and presented the 2007 Brit Awards, Comic Relief and the MTV Music Video Awards and hosted his own show on BBC Radio 2.

He made the move into Hollywood films with roles including an Arthur remake, comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and 2012 musical comedy Rock Of Ages.

In recent years, he has pivoted to podcasting and online influencing, and now lives in Florida in the United States.

Brand, who pleaded not guilty to the charges during pre-trial hearings, is on bail.