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YouTube has suspended adverts on videos by Russell Brand after the comedian was accused of rape and sexual assault.

The Google-owned company said it had suspended the monetisation of Mr Brand’s channel for “violating our Creator Responsibility policy”.

“If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community,” a spokesperson for YouTube said.

Brand’s YouTube channels – the largest of which has more than six million subscribers – remain on the platform, but his videos no longer feature adverts.

The comedian found fame in the early 2000s on the stand-up circuit and as a presenter of shows including Big Brother’s Big Mouth, but in recent years, has switched to wellness coaching and producing regular YouTube videos – from which he is thought to derive much of his income.

He maintains a presence on Rumble – a video site popular with some conservatives and far-right groups – where his channel has 1.4m followers.

It comes after four women made sexual abuse allegations against the star between 2006 and 2013 as part of an investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

Brand, 48, denies any allegations against him. He claimed in a video posted online on Friday night that all his relationships have been “consensual”.

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Police receive Brand assault claim

The comedian had been due to perform at the Theatre Royal in Windsor on Tuesday – with more dates scheduled in Wolverhampton and Plymouth later this month.

But the tour promoters said in a statement on Monday: “We are postponing these few remaining addiction charity fundraiser shows, we don’t like doing it – but we know you’ll understand.”

Since publication, The Times said it had been contacted by “several women” with further claims about Brand, but said their allegations have not yet been investigated and “will now be rigorously checked”.

The Metropolitan Police said on Monday it had received an allegation of sexual assault against Brand dating back to 2003, following the publication of the claims against the comedian.

On Monday one of his accusers claimed a BBC car took her from school to the star’s house when she was 16 years old.

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‘BBC car took me to Russell Brand’s house’

“Alice” told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour the alleged abusive relationship left her feeling “cheap and dirtied”.

She went on to say Brand’s denial of the accusations was “insulting”, adding: “It’s laughable that he would even imply that this is some kind of mainstream media conspiracy. He’s not outside the mainstream.”

Downing Street has also described the allegations against Brand as “very serious and concerning”

Channel 4 and TV production firm Banijay UK confirmed over the weekend they had launched investigations, while the BBC said it was “urgently looking into the issues raised”.

Read more:
The allegations in full
Stars’ past warnings resurface
From drug addict to controversial comedy star

The charity Trevi Women, which supports mothers recovering from drug addiction, also announced on Saturday it was cutting ties with Brand.

But the comedian has received backing from several high-profile figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk.

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Russell Brand denies ‘serious allegations’

He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: “I support Russell Brand. That man is not evil.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Sachs’ granddaughter said she “doesn’t see Russell Brand as a rapist” from her “own experience”.

Georgina Baillie, who had a relationship with Brand in the 2000s, added that women’s stories of sexual abuse should always be believed and taken seriously.

Baillie, 38, was at the centre of the so-called “Sachsgate” scandal in 2008, which saw Brand and TV presenter Jonathan Ross leave lewd messages about her on her Fawlty Towers star grandfather’s answering machine.

Discussing her relationship with Brand on TalkTV’s Piers Morgan Uncensored, she said: “He was always very nice to me. It was always clear what the parameters were and that was mutually agreed upon and never did anything untoward happen – apart from that [the Sachsgate tapes].

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“I was struggling with addiction for about 10-15 years and I was finding it very hard to get clean and sober. So one of my mutual friends between me and Russell called him up and said, ‘Georgie needs some help’, and so he sent me to rehab.

“And so I was physically separated from my drug of choice and I got some therapy and I think that had a big part to play in my recovery journey.”

Going on to discuss the allegations, she said: “I’m not saying they are lies because you know, it was a long time ago. We all… I think they should be believed and get some help.”

Asked if she was presuming Brand was guilty, she added: “I, from my own personal experience, do not see Russell as a rapist. However, a lot of the evidence is very compelling, so one has to keep an open mind.”

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Neighbours cancelled again by Amazon – just two years after 40-year-old soap was revived

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Neighbours cancelled again by Amazon - just two years after 40-year-old soap was revived

Neighbours has been axed for a second time, just two years after Amazon threw the Australian soap a lifeline.

A statement on the programme’s social media accounts confirmed the final episode of the 40-year series would air in December 2025.

The show follows the lives of the residents of Erinsborough, a fictional suburb of Melbourne, with famous former alumni including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie.

Read more: Neighbours – the famous stars on Ramsay Street

Executive producer Jason Herbison said: “Audiences all around the world have loved and embraced Neighbours for four decades and we are very proud of the huge success over the last two years including often appearing as one of the Top 10 titles in the UK and the show’s first ever Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024.

“As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally.

“We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.”

Read more from Sky News:
James Bond producers cede creative control
Liam Payne death charges dropped

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Fremantle Media/Shutterstock (848722dh)
'Neighbours'   
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan
Grundy TV Archive
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Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan returned for the first series finale. Photo by Fremantle Media/Shutterstock

It is the second time the show has been cancelled, after it was first axed by Channel 5 in the UK after it failed to secure new funding.

But a few months after what was meant to be its final episode, the series was revived by streaming giant Amazon Freeve and Freemantle.

The show is available online in the UK and on Channel 10 in Australia.

Channel 10 said on X: “They’ve been our neighbours for almost 40 years, we’re so sad to be saying goodbye. We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this remarkable Australian story over the years.”

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Sir David Frost’s son: What I learned reviewing broadcast legend’s famous interviews

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Sir David Frost's son: What I learned reviewing broadcast legend's famous interviews

Dad was a showman with great charisma, but he never lost sight of the fact that an interview is about the guest, not the host.

That is made clear when you review the 10,000+ interviews he did, as I have done over the last decade since he left us.

That theme has been central to the series, David Frost Vs.

David Frost with Muhammad Ali
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David Frost with Muhammad Ali. Pic: David Paradine Productions Ltd

Pic: Adam Scull/Shutterstock 

Elton John and David Frost USA New York City
Elton John David Frost 1978
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Elton John and David Frost in New York in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/Shutterstock

Pic: ITV/Shutterstock 

John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on the 'Frost on Sunday' tv chat chow programme, produced by ITV London Weekend Television, with David Frost
ITV ARCHIVE
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John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Sir David. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock

Six individual films about crucial moments in our recent history, that are still relevant and resonant today, where Dad just happened to have a front row seat, not six films specifically about Dad.

His extraordinarily revealing interviews with the likes of The Beatles, Yoko Ono, Muhammad Ali, Jane Fonda, Elton John and Richard Nixon are in part so revealing because they were given time to breathe.

Jane Fonda being interviewed by David Frost
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Jane Fonda being interviewed by David Frost. Pic: David Paradine Productions Ltd

Pic: ITV/Shutterstock 

'The Frost Programme'  TV - 1967 -
David Frost, George Harrison, John Lennon.
ITV Archive stills
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David Frost with George Harrison and John Lennon in 1967. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock

Long-form is critical to have a chance of delivering the era-defining conversations that stand the test of time as he did so often. But it takes much more than that. These conversations are deeply personal.

I think our films will reveal more than expected about the people and topics we explore because you really feel the words being spoken.

Dad understood live television better than anyone and when it came to interviewing, both his guests and his viewers are drawn in because what drove him was a genuine curiosity about people.

Sky's Wilfred Frost spoke to Sir Keir Starmer
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Sky’s Wilfred Frost interviewing Sir Keir Starmer last year

David Frost with his wife Lady Carina and Wilfred as they left St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. Pic: PA
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David Frost with his wife Lady Carina and Wilfred as they left St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington on 19 August 1985. Pic: PA

He never entered an interview with an agenda. He was interested in the person in front of him and what they had to say.

But I don’t think that is something you can teach or learn. He just genuinely loved people.

David Frost Vs is coming soon to Sky Documentaries.

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James Bond: Amazon takes creative control of 007 franchise

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James Bond: Amazon takes creative control of 007 franchise

Creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise has been handed to Amazon MGM Studios, in a joint venture with the current owners.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson – who are the daughter and stepson of film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the man responsible for developing the Bond franchise into the success it is today – will remain co-owners of 007 intellectual property rights.

The pair own EON Productions, the company behind Bond films including Skyfall and Spectre. It has produced 25 films since 1962.

Daniel Craig plays James Bond for the fifth time in No Time To Die. Pic: MGM
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Craig played Bond for a fifth and final time in No Time To Die. Pic: MGM

The deal follows speculation over when the next Bond movie – and indeed the next Bond – will be announced.

The last film, No Time To Die, was delivered four years ago to rave reviews and box office success. It was the swansong for Daniel Craig in his performance of the lady-loving spy.

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Details of the 26th official Bond film – and its new star – are yet to be revealed.

In a statement on EON Productions website, Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said they were “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and looked forward to “ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world”.

Wilson said that after 60 years spent working across the franchise, he would now be focusing on “art and charitable projects”.

Brian Cox and Barbara Broccoli on the 007: Road To A Million red carpet. Pic: Ian West
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Brian Cox and Barbara Broccoli on the 007: Road To A Million red carpet. Pic: Ian West

Barbara Broccoli said: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.

“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time To Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”

In 2022, Amazon bought MGM Studios, which distributes Bond, for $8.45bn (£6.79bn).

Since the acquisition, the streamer has held the rights to distribute all the Bond movies.

Brian Cox as The Controller in 007's Road To A Million. Pic: Amazon Prime Video
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Cox as The Controller in 007’s Road To A Million. Pic: Amazon Prime Video

In the spring of 2023, Amazon Prime Video launched Bond-themed reality show, 007 Road To A Million.

Hosted by Succession star Brian Cox, it offered nine pairs of contestants the chance to win £1m as they travelled through global locations associated with the franchise.

While no one took home the full £1m jackpot, brothers James and Joey did take £150,000. The show was met with a mixed critical reception but was given the green light for a second season.

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