Channel 4 boss apologises to former employee over Russell Brand complaint

The head of Channel 4 has apologised to a former employee after admitting the broadcaster failed to properly investigate a “serious and concerning” complaint about Russell Brand.

Alex Mahon, Channel 4’s chief executive, said that the 2009 allegation was not referred to senior management “nor investigated as it ought to have been”.

The allegation was uncovered during an internal investigation launched in response to the broadcast of Channel 4’s Dispatches.

That documentary featured accusations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse against a number of different women. Brand has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

The internal investigation found no evidence to suggest that there was knowledge within the channel of the allegations contained in the Dispatches programme, while he was a presenter on Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Kings of Comedy between 2004 and 2007.

However, it found a staff member made an allegation about Brand’s conduct in 2009 but it was not passed up the channel’s senior management chain. There were also “delays in ongoing communication” with the complainant last year.

They no longer work for Channel 4 but contacted the broadcaster after the Dispatches programme aired to draw attention to their original complaint.

Serious and concerning

Alex Mahon said: “Whilst the investigation did not find any evidence to suggest that any Channel 4 employees were aware of Russell Brand’s alleged behaviour contained in the programme, it did find that one former Channel 4 employee made a serious and concerning allegation about Russell Brand in 2009.

“This was not escalated to Channel 4’s then-senior management team, nor investigated as it should have been.

“I have apologised on behalf of the organisation to the individual for this breakdown and for the distress this matter has caused.”

Russell Brand: In Plain Sight was named winner of the best documentary category at this year’s Broadcasting Press Guild awards.

The internal investigation also looked into Brand’s appearance on a celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off, which was recorded in 2018 and broadcast the following year.

It found that “recollections varied” about when concerns around Brand began to circulate within the commissioning team for that programme, but there was no record of concerns being raised with Channel 4 management.

Brand was questioned by police in December in connection with six historic sex offences following accusations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse against a number of different women.

Following the claims, which appeared after a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, it is understood other alleged victims came forward to police.