Comedian Russell Brand is facing trial accused of raping and sexually assaulting six women.
The 51-year-old former radio presenter faces allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009, while he was at the height of his fame.
He was seen arriving at Southwark Crown Court with his wife Laura Gallacher, with jury selection taking place on Monday and Tuesday. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC is set to open the case on Wednesday morning, with the comedian telling journalists he feels “concerned” but “blessed”.
Brand has consistently denied three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assaults, and one allegation of indecent assault, made by six women.
Who is Russell Brand?
The Essex-born comedian started his career doing stand-up but became a household name after he was selected to front Big Brother spin-off shows for Channel 4.
He became a household name during the 2000s through his radio shows and TV appearances, including the Russell Brand Show which aired on BBC Radio 2. Brand also won a number of presenting roles including the 2007 Brit Awards, Comic Relief and the MTV Music Video Awards, and has received three British Comedy Awards and a nomination for a Bafta Award.
He later branched into acting and featured in St Trinian’s, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, an Arthur remake and 2012 musical comedy Rock Of Ages.
His profile was raised even further by his marriage to singer Katy Perry in 2010, with their divorce finalised in 2012.
Brand has now pivoted into podcasting and online influencing, and now lives in Florida in the United States with his wife and their three children.
What has he been accused of?
The podcaster is accused of groping women and forcing them into sexual acts in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009.
Previous hearings have heard 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.
In 2025, he was charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences involving four women between 1999 and 2005.
Two fresh charges were brought in January this year, alleging one count of rape and one of sexual assault against two women in London in 2009.
Brand denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assaults, and one allegation of indecent assault, made by six women.
Where is the trial being heard?
His trial, which could last up to 10 weeks, began on Wednesday morning at Southwark Crown Court in central London.
Jury selection was completed on Monday and Tuesday and the comedian is on bail as proceedings continue.
Photographers, video journalists and news presenters could be seen in position at around 7.30am, while a line of reporters waited to get into the court building.
At around 9:30am, Brand arrived outside Southwark Crown Court in central London in a black Mercedes, before waiting for a few minutes to leave the vehicle.
Flanked by security and accompanied by his wife, a reporter asked how he was feeling and he replied: “Today I feel blessed, I feel of course concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved.
“That’s my prayer.”
The comedian wore a dark suit, a black-and-white striped shirt, a long white tie and sunglasses, and took his wife’s hand as he headed towards the courtroom.
Once inside the courthouse, he and his legal team were ushered into a private room close to the courtroom where his trial is due to take place.
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