A clip of Russell Brand joking about rape on the Big Fat Quiz of the Year has resurfaced following the comedian’s rape and sexual assault convictions.
The stand-up comic and actor, 51, was found guilty on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault on Thursday (5 November) as his trial at Southwark Crown Court came to an end. Brand preyed on women throughout his career, with his victims telling the trial how he had forced them into sexual activity and used his fame to pursue his goal of sleeping with 5,000 women.
In light of his convictions, a clip from Brand’s appearance on Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year has been reshared on social media, in which the comic makes jokes about rape later described by panellist Lily Allen as “really horrendous”.
The episode, which aired in 2007, saw host Jimmy Carr welcome Rob Brydon, David Mitchell, Jonathan Ross, Noel Fielding and Brand onto the panel alongside singer Lily Allen, who was 21 at the time and the only woman on the show.
Russell Brand and Noel Fielding on Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2007) pic.twitter.com/NB9cAUYfgs
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“I’m a bit concerned because look where you’ve put us,” Ross tells Carr in the clip. “You’ve put the only sexually attractive young lady – well, the only young lady full stop, she happens to be very attractive as well – near two of the best known cocksmen of the business.” Ross was referring to Brand and Fielding, who were seated to the left of Allen.
“I’m going to insist as a sort of uncle figure in Lily’s life that she moves over there because obviously that’s the sexless zone,” Ross continues, pointing to Brydon and Mitchell, who looked at one another and nodded in agreement. “And then, Lily might go home with her breasts still on.”
Fielding then replies: “How dare you? We’re not rapists,” with Carr asking him why he’s wearing a cape on the show if he’s not a rapist.
“It’s a Jack the Ripper cape. He wasn’t a rapist, he was just–” Fielding says, as Russell Brand adds: “A serial murderer. There is no direct corollary between capes and rape. It’s just a rhyme. Leave him alone.”
Brand continues: “What if, horror of horrors, he ain’t even done a rape. You could ruin his reputation. Have you done a rape?” Fielding replies: “Well, if I have, I’d be leaving the scene of the crime like this,” before placing his cape up to his face like Dracula.
Allen later spoke about the uncomfortable moment in an interview 16 years later. “I was on a chat show with Russell Brand and Noel Fielding and Jonathan Ross. And there are comments, I think, about me being raped or something,” she told Grazia in 2023.
“And I laugh along with it. In retrospect, that’s really horrendous. It makes me uncomfortable, but I don’t think I felt that at the time, because it was the culture.”
Fielding has not been accused of any wrongdoing and was not involved in Brand’s trial and conviction in any way.
Following the court’s verdict on Thursday, Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand that the charges meant he faced “a custodial sentence of some length” when he is sentenced on Monday.
He was denied bail and remanded in custody following the judgement, spending his first night in the cells last night.
Brand is under investigation for two more alleged rapes, including a 16-year-old schoolgirl, and police have warned that further victims could still come forward.
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