BBC apologises to staff over handling of Russell Brand complaints

The BBC has apologised to staff who felt unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand's behaviour during his time working for the broadcaster.

The corporation said eight complaints of misconduct had been considered - only two of which were made during the presenter's time there.

It also acknowledged it was "clear" some presenters had been able to abuse their positions in the past.

Brand, 49, has strongly denied any allegations against him and previously said all his sexual relationships were "absolutely always consensual".

The BBC's apology came as it released the findings of an internal review of its handling of complaints, which cost £662,000 and involved interviews with 39 individuals. This focused on the comedian's work for 6 Music and Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008.

BBC director of editorial complaints and reviews Peter Johnston, who carried out the investigation, found there were many staff who felt "unable to raise" concerns and believed Brand "would always get his way and therefore they stayed silent".

The review looked into reports the presenter allegedly urinated "into cups or bottles while in the studio, throwing objects, allegations of sex on the premises including with competition winners, and exposure while in the studio in front of staff and guests".

It also investigated a complaint made by a woman working in the same building as the BBC's office in Los Angeles. She claimed Brand flashed her in 2008, and later laughed about the incident on his radio show.

Mr Johnston said the "culture of the time undoubtedly influenced what was acceptable/tolerated" but that "the processes for raising concerns were also not as developed as they are now". The BBC has since improved these processes, he said.

Brand was asked to participate - 'but did not accept'

Russell Brand joined the BBC as a regular presenter for 6 Music in April 2006 and joined Radio 2 in November that year. He had a regular show on the station until he left in 2008 over a "high-profile editorial breach" - when he made a prank call to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.

His hiring was "understood (by those keen to hire him) to be a decision which carried editorial risks, given the nature of his comedy performances and material, but was in line with the strategy of the station at the time" - which was to attract younger audiences and bring in presenters with profile, the review found.

Brand was asked to participate in the review, Mr Johnston said, "but did not accept the invitation".

The review was carried out after a joint investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches programme, The Times and Sunday Times, published in 2023, in which Brand was accused by four women of sexual assaults and abuse between 2006 and 2013.

'We know it has not been easy to speak out'

In response to the report, the BBC said that after allegations were raised in 2023, "it was important that this was looked into methodically" and the review had been "conducted with the greatest care".

Their statement said: "We want to thank the individuals who have participated, as we know that it has not been easy to speak out about some of the issues the review addresses.

"The review considered eight complaints of misconduct about Russell Brand, only two of which were made while he was engaged by the BBC, one formally and one informally.  It is of great concern that some of these individuals felt unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand's behaviour at the time, and the BBC has apologised to them as part of this review.

"It is also clear that there were compliance inadequacies on some of Russell Brand's Radio 2 shows which led to content being aired that would not be broadcast today. Russell Brand left the BBC in 2008 following a high-profile editorial breach."

The BBC highlighted an ongoing police investigation into Brand and said it had been in contact with the Metropolitan Police throughout the review.

"The BBC acknowledges that Russell Brand categorically denies all public allegations made against him," the broadcaster added.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the complaints in the report were "horrendous" and added: "As is the fact that staff felt unable to raise concerns because they did not think that they would be believed or taken seriously."

The BBC needs to take action to reassure staff and the public that it takes the issues seriously, she said. "Power imbalances and a perception that certain stars cannot be challenged are sadly not unique to this case."

The BBC's review comes after similar investigations into Brand's time working on Channel 4 shows including Big Brother spin-offs Big Brother's Big Mouth and Big Brother's Celebrity Hijack.

TV production company Banijay UK found that concerns raised informally about his alleged behaviour between 2004 and 2008 were "not properly escalated or adequately addressed".

A separate Channel 4 investigation found there was no evidence that bosses were aware of any accusations.

In November, the Met Police said they had handed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

A man in his 40s was interviewed by officers three times under caution in relation to allegations of non-recent sexual offences, the force said at the time.

Sky News has contacted representatives for Brand for comment.