Russell Brand tells fans ‘there are things he cannot discuss’ as he plays comedy show after sexual assault claims

Russell Brand has appeared live on stage in London hours after being publicly accused of rape and sexual assault, telling audience members “there were certain things he could not discuss”.

The comedian turned up in a black Mercedes 46 minutes late to the sold-out gig at the Troubadour Wembley Park theatre, which was due to start at 7pm but did not begin until just after 8pm on Saturday.

The venue has a capacity of 2,000 and fans who had not bought valid tickets could be seen before the show begging front of house staff to let them in.

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A video of Brand from inside the venue shows him walking on stage smiling and being met with cheers before telling the crowds: “Thank you, thank you, I love you.”

Dressed in white trainers, grey jeans, a black jacket and sunglasses, the 48-year-old appeared to briefly address the allegations made against him before he began his set.

Audience members told the PA news agency that Brand told them he hoped they would “appreciate” there were “certain things he could not discuss” during the show.

The set itself was shorter than the time crowds had waited for it to begin, and people could be seen leaving an hour and three minutes after it began.

Brand made a swift exit from the venue just before 9.40pm.

It was one of his four remaining dates on his Russell Brand Bipolarisation live show.

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Four women have made allegations of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 while Brand was at the height of his fame, in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.

He denies all allegations.