Revealed: Katherine Ryan repeatedly accused Russell Brand of being a ‘sexual predator’ during filming for Comedy Central’s Roast Battle before he was dropped from what was his last major TV job in the UK

Katherine Ryan repeatedly accused Russell Brand of being a “sexual predator” while filming for his last major television job in Britain before being axed from the show.

Brand was a judge on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018, but was only picked up for one season after Ryan allegedly roasted him on camera over allegations that he had sexually assaulted women – which he fervently denied.

The comedian has been the subject of claims from a number of women between 2006 and 2013 who accused him of abusive and predatory behavior, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse.

The Metropolitan Police have also confirmed that they are now investigating an alleged assault in Soho in 2013 – three years before it took place, three years before the four assaults Brand was already accused of.

The comedian absolutely denies the allegations and insists that all his relationships have been consensual.

Brand, pictured leaving the Troubabour Wembley Park theater on Saturday, was grilled on camera by Ryan over allegations he had sexually assaulted women.

Roast Battle consists of comedians making jokes at each other’s expense. The first season included Brand, Ryan and Jimmy Carr. Jonathan Ross replaced Brand for the second season.

During the filming of the show – made by Fulwell 73 – Ryan reportedly fired accusations at Brand. According to her, her comments did not make it into the broadcast show Deadline.

Ryan’s confrontations allegedly exposed how comedians in the industry spoke openly about Brand’s sexual and predatory behavior.

Brand is said to have been ‘absolutely furious’ after being targeted by Ryan on the show, a source told the newspaper.

Two other sources claimed that he demanded that producers protect him from criticism over these serious allegations.

Industry insiders have now revealed that they felt it was best for Brand to step down as a judge on the programme, and that ‘it ultimately came down to the fact that it seemed like Russell didn’t have a good sense of humour’.

This show appears to be one of Brand’s last appearances on British TV screens, apart from the Great British Celebrity Bake Off in the same year.

Katherine Ryan previously claimed to have told a comedian ‘to his face’ that he was a sexual predator and that the allegations against the person were an ‘open secret’.

The Canadian comedian and writer told Louis Theroux that she confronted the unnamed man while they were working together on a public TV show “over and over again.”

Brand was a judge on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018, alongside Ryan and Jimmy Carr

Katherine Ryan previously claimed to have told a comedian ‘to his face’ that he was a sexual predator and that the allegations against this person were an ‘open secret’

Speaking in 2022, the 40-year-old said she had no qualms about that because she had decided to handle it “like a man” – although the confrontation itself was later removed from the broadcast.

In her conversation with Theroux, Ms Ryan claimed that she had been criticized afterwards for not publicly naming the person in question, but said that just talking about him was a “litigious minefield” because he had “very good lawyers”.

The comedian added that it was “not my story to tell” but that she believed the allegations as sources “very credible.”

In the Dispatches documentary that first revealed the allegations against Brand, comedian Daniel Sloss claimed that Brand’s behavior was known to many and that women warned each other about him.

He told the show that there were “a lot of stories of varying seriousness” about Brand that came from a number of different people on the comedy circuit.

Mr Sloss said he was often talked about in public, with many people on the comedy circuit aware of his alleged offensive and coercive behaviour.

He added that female comedians even talked about him in WhatsApp groups, warning each other which comedians to avoid.

He said: ‘For many, many years women have been warning each other about Russell.’

Katherine Ryan, Fulwell 73 and a Brand representative have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.