The Trial of Russell Brand

On the tenth day of the trial of Russell Brand, it was a non-sitting day for the jury. So, instead – you asked, we answered. We took the time to answer some of the many questions we’ve received. Will Russell Brand be cross-examined? And who is the Russell Brand look-alike who’s been in court every day?

We’re also joined by court artist Priscilla Coleman, whose beautiful sketches have been making the rounds on social media. She tells us how she captures the scene through notes like “blonde potato”.

The prosecution case will resume on Monday.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day (when the jury is), and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

Images and video: Getty, PA Media, MB Media

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the ninth day of the trial of Russell Brand, more than 20 witnesses gave evidence relating to Woman 5. This is the complainant who alleges she was raped in Brand’s home in 2009. Two of the witnesses told the court Woman 5 did not tell police at the time because she didn’t think she would be believed.

The defence suggested Woman 5 had had consensual sex with Russell Brand and later regretted it.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eighth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 5 finished her testimony and was then cross-examined by the defence. Woman 5 said she felt “guilt and shame” but did not consent to a specific sexual act with Brand.

The defence argued that she did consent and said Woman 5 had “idolised” Brand at the time.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify.

Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the seventh day in the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 5 told police she went willingly to Brand’s house, but during that visit something she didn’t consent to happened, and he allegedly raped her.

Woman 4 and Woman 6 both allege Brand sexually assaulted them in their workplaces.

The defence suggested Woman 4 did not have a clear memory of the incident, and Woman 6 gave an inconsistent account about her clothing to a journalist.

The defence will begin cross examination of Woman 5 tomorrow.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the sixth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 3 took to the witness box. She alleges Brand orally raped her after he pulled her into a toilet in 2004.

The defence suggested Brand invited her into the toilet where they had a “kiss and cuddle”.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the fifth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 2 took the stand. She described how Brand allegedly tried to pull her into a male toilet in 2001, going from a “friendly” person to a “wild-eyed maniac.”

The defence suggested it could have been an invitation for a consensual encounter.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.

On the fourth day of the trial of Russell Brand we heard from the first complainant. She alleges that Brand raped her in 1999 in Bournemouth. In an emotional video interview, the court heard her describe to police how she “couldn’t breathe” and told him “no, I don’t want this.” The defence barrister suggested the encounter was instead a consensual one-night stand.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

We want to hear from you: [email protected]

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With our reporters following every word in court, the trial of Russell Brand began in earnest today. The prosecution laid out their case, calling Brand “ruthless, calculating, and manipulative…a sexual predator.” Brand has denied all charges against him.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the trial of Russell Brand began at Southwark Crown Court. Brand stands accused of seven charges, including rape and other sexual offences. He has denied all charges.

In court today, the jurors who will decide Brand’s fate began to be chosen.

Follow or subscribe to never miss an episode.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From provocative stand-up comedian to Hollywood leading man, Russell Brand will stand trial next month on seven charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to each. Every day throughout the trial, Luke Jones will be joined by Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, to dissect the evidence and discuss where the case might go next.

Before the trial begins on Monday 12 October, we look back on Russell Brand’s career, and the allegations against him.

New episodes daily from October 12th. 

Host: Luke Jones, with Rosamund Urwin, Chief News Correspondent for The Sunday Times and Charlotte Wace, Investigations Correspondent for The Times.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.