Noel Fielding ‘horrified and deeply disturbed’ by Russell Brand’s crimes

The Great British Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding has said he was “horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes” and has had no contact with his fellow comedian “for many years”.

In the early 2000s, Fielding often worked with Brand, who was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on Monday for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

In a statement issued to the Sun, Fielding said: “I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge. My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.

“I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one. I have had no contact with him for many years.

“Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him, I was appalled. They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”

Footage has recently resurfaced of Fielding and Brand joking about rape with the TV presenter Jonathan Ross on an episode of the Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2007. Brand also joked with Fielding about kissing and holding an underage grasshopper on an episode of The Russell Brand Show which aired in October 2007.

Fielding, a frequent guest and co-host on the BBC Radio 2 show, said: “How do you even know if it’s a child or an adult? You don’t even care, do you?”

Brand, who was 32 at the time, replied: “It’s a mistake I’ve made. I’ve had a lot of problems in the past, because I thought a grasshopper was above age. Before I know it, I’m in it, right, I’m kissing it, I’m holding it. Then it turns around and looks at me with onyx eyes and says: ‘I’m 12.’”

The pair had met at the NME Awards in the early 2000s and often performed at charity gigs as a comedy duo known as The Goth Detectives.

Fielding has never been accused of misconduct and there is no suggestion he knew about Brand’s behaviour towards women. Since his conviction, Brand was accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by a further six women in a new investigation by the Times and the Sunday Times.

• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html