BBC and Channel Four chiefs ‘face grilling’ over how Russell Brand treated female staff
BBC and Channel Four chiefs are angry at Russell Brand’s treatment of female staff
- The BBC confirmed it did not investigate complaints made between 2006 and 2008
- It is suggested that Brand was forced to apologize several times by production staff
The BBC and Channel 4 are likely to face questions after turning a blind eye to Russell Brand’s behavior while he worked for them.
Television insiders predict that broadcaster bosses will be called before a government select committee for questioning.
Last night the BBC confirmed it did not investigate complaints about Brand between 2006 and 2008, when he presented shows for Radio 2 and 6 Music.
During his time there, it was alleged that the comedian would undress and make sexual comments about newsreader Andrea Simmons, describing her on air as “erotic” and a “sex bomb”, and telling his listeners that he would like to “scrutinize want to go’. desk” while she was reading the news.
Several times after this it is suggested that Brand was forced to apologize by the production staff.
Two of the women in Channel 4’s Dispatches, which aired on Saturday evening, said they felt production companies had ‘enabled’ Brand’s behaviour.
The BBC and Channel 4 are likely to face questions after turning a blind eye to Russell Brand’s behavior while he worked for them
Production runner Rachel, 24, worked with Brand on Big Brother’s EFourum, later Big Mouth. Weeks after she started the role, Brand reportedly turned his attention to her.
Rachel said: ‘It’s hard to say when the line was crossed.’ She added that producers often asked her to deliver unfavorable news to Brand to “soften the blow.”
She said the pair had sex, which he said was a violation of his contract.
Rachel said: ‘He made it clear to me that I couldn’t tell anyone else on the crew because it was in his contract that he couldn’t have sexual contact with anyone working on Big Brother.
‘It sounds a bit dramatic, but in retrospect, and now that I’m an older woman, I can say with clarity that I felt like I was ready for sex.
“Production companies allowed him to exist in these environments where he could capitalize on who he was.”
Alice, who claims she was in an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship with Brand when she was just 16 and he was 31, said Channel 4 and the BBC “had a hand” in enabling Brand.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed that several complaints had been made to former Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas but were never investigated, adding that they “only went so far” and that “nothing was done about it.”
The BBC spokesman added that Ms Douglas resigned in 2008 following the Sachsgate scandal, when Brand and fellow presenter Jonathan Ross left obscene messages on actor Andrew Sachs’s answering machine.
Sources said there were no plans to launch a new investigation into the allegations.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 confirmed last night that it had ordered an investigation into claims that staff who worked with Brand on reality TV spin-off Big Brother’s Big Mouth in 2005 were made to feel like ‘pimps’ when he told them to target female spectators to search. for him to meet.
It was also claimed that Brand’s behavior towards young women ‘raised questions’.
Last night the BBC confirmed it was not investigating complaints made about Brand between 2006 and 2008 when he presented shows for Radio 2 and 6 Music.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 confirmed last night that it had ordered an investigation into claims that staff who worked with Brand on reality TV spin-off Big Brother’s Big Mouth in 2005 were made to feel like “pimps”.
An employee revealed moments when she had to pick Brand up from his hotel room and he showed up in his underwear, suggesting they had a ‘quickie’ before filming. Another staff member said they were left ‘in tears’ by his behaviour.
A spokeswoman for the network said it had instructed Endemol, the company that made Big Brother’s Big Mouth, to fully investigate and report back on the claims.
She said: ‘We will ask the production company that produced the programs for Channel 4 to investigate these allegations and report their findings correctly and satisfactorily to us.’
She added that the broadcaster was ‘committed to understanding the full nature of what happened’ and had carried out ‘extensive document searches and found no evidence to suggest that the alleged incidents had been brought to the attention of Channel 4’.
However, Channel 4 staff have accused their bosses of passing the bill to Endemol, with one telling The Mail on Sunday: ‘They commission the production company and therefore they have a responsibility to ensure their staff are properly is handled and that Complaints are handled properly and quickly. It’s typical Channel 4.’