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A TV executive who worked at a company that hired Russell Brand has described the allegations against the star as “depressing”.

Phil Edgar-Jones was creative director of Remarkable Pictures, part of Endemol UK, and oversaw Big Brother during its Channel 4 years.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: “There was never any sense that he’d done anything inappropriate that was brought to our attention certainly.

“We knew he had a reputation for being promiscuous – and everybody knew that at the time – but that’s as far as it went, as far as we knew.”

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Russell Brand denies ‘serious allegations’

He added that the allegations were “pretty depressing”.

Mr Edgar-Jones, who is now director of Sky Arts and Entertainment, went on to stress that Remarkable Pictures would “100%” have acted if something was brought to its attention.

Four women made allegations of rape and sexual assault against Brand in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

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Some of the claims date back to when he was presenting the spin-off programme Big Brother’s Big Mouth.

The comedian and actor has said he “absolutely refutes” the allegations against him – and claimed he is being attacked by the mainstream media.

Mr Edgar-Jones said it was difficult to say whether Brand’s on-set behaviour at the time would have been regarded as unacceptable now.

“It’s 20 years ago – I guess, maybe these things get called out a lot more now, for sure. But at the time, it didn’t seem like there was anything untoward that he was doing,” he added.

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BBC orders review into Russell Brand

The executive went on to confirm that he is happy to take part in the reviews that are happening at the moment – with the BBC and Channel 4 launching investigations.

 Comedian Russell Brand poses for photographers before signing copies of his new book entitled "Revolution" in central London, December 5, 2014. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA)/File Photo

In other developments:

• YouTube has suspended adverts on videos posted to Brand’s account

• Channel 4 has taken down content featuring the comedian from its streaming service

• The BBC has also removed some Brand content from iPlayer and Sounds

• Paramount+ has removed a Brand stand-up comedy special, Live in New York City, from its service

• Brand’s tour promoters have confirmed that his live shows have been postponed

• The Metropolitan Police has received an allegation of sexual assault against Brand that dates back to 2003

Read more:
Why are allegations only out now?
How YouTube stars make millions

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Evidence against Brand ‘compelling’

Removing YouTube earnings is ‘cancel culture’

Brand was at the centre of the so-called “Sachsgate” scandal in 2008, when he and TV presenter Jonathan Ross left lewd messages on the answerphone of Andrew Sachs, the late actor who starred in Fawlty Towers.

The voicemails had related to Sachs’s granddaughter Georgina Baillie, who had an on-off relationship with Brand in the 2000s.

Speaking to The Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, Baillie said that YouTube’s decision to suspend earnings from Brand’s channel amounted to “cancel culture”.

The 38-year-old actress went on to say that, even though she did not know all of the details surrounding the allegations, some of the evidence is “compelling”.

When asked about her thoughts about the claims, Baillie added: “I don’t know what happened there – I don’t know because I wasn’t there. He never did anything like that with me, everything was more than consensual, I promise.”

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Murder suspect in hospital after 14-year-old killed in sword attack in London

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Murder suspect in hospital after 14-year-old killed in sword attack in London

A murder suspect remains in hospital after a 14-year-old boy was killed and four others injured in a sword attack in northeast London.

A 36-year-old man was tasered and arrested at the scene in Hainault on Tuesday morning.

He was taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during the incident when his van hit a house.

The Metropolitan Police said he had not yet been interviewed because of his injuries.

Police were initially called at 7am on Tuesday to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in Hainault.

A man was later seen wielding a sword and attacking members of the public on a road near Hainault tube station.

The suspect was arrested 22 minutes later. Doorbell footage showed the moment officers cornered the hooded man, who was still holding his weapon, in a driveway.

RETRANSMITTED AMENDING BYLINE..NUMBERPLATE PIXELATED BY PA PICTURE DESK..Handout footage from a doorbell camera of police officers tasering a sword-wielding man in Hainault, north east London, after a 14-year-old boy died after being stabbed following an attack on members of the public and two police officers. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Hainault. Photo credit should read: PA Wire
Image:
The suspect can be seen turning away from an officer with a taser. Pic: PA

Moment Hainault stabbing suspect tasered and arrested
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A female officer can be seen walking towards the suspect and tasering him. Pic: PA


Police confirmed on Tuesday that one person – a teenage boy – had died and four others were injured during the incident.

Among those injured were two police officers who suffered wounds that required surgery, but were not life-threatening, and two members of the public.

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Police said they did not think it was a targeted attack, or terror-related, and they were working to establish the circumstances of what took place.

Eyewitnesses described hearing shrieking and seeing someone receive CPR at the scene of the stabbings.

Video of part of the incident showed how officers shouted at the suspect, saying “Don’t move, don’t f****** move” after he was brought to the ground by three separate Taser discharges before being arrested.

RETRANSMITTED AMENDING BYLINE NUMBERPLATE PIXELATED BY PA PICTURE DESK Handout footage from a doorbell camera of police officers tasering and detaining a sword-wielding man in Hainault, north east London, after a 14-year-old boy died after being stabbed following an attack on members of the public and two police officers. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
The suspect is surrounded by officers who pin him to the ground. Pic: PA


Other footage showed the suspect being chased by police as an officer is heard shouting “Lock your doors” as the sword-wielding man entered residential gardens.

In another clip, a police car arrives before the man verbally confronts the police and shouts “Is there anybody here who believes in God?” while standing next to a body.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said there had been speculation about whether police had been aware of the suspect before the incident.

She said that, despite urgent and extensive checks, police had “found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far, but we will of course continue to make those inquiries”.

Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA 
Police at the scene in Hainault, north east London, after reports of several people being stabbed at a Tube station. A 36-year-old man wielding a sword was arrested following the attack on members of the public and two police officers. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Hainault. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
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Police at the scene. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA


Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA
Police at the scene in Hainault, north east London, after reports of several people being stabbed at a Tube station. A 36-year-old man wielding a sword was arrested following the attack on members of the public and two police officers. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
Police at the scene. Pic: Jordan Pettitt/PA


Read more:
Everything we know so far
Witnesses recall terrifying scenes

A neighbour from a nearby road, who witnessed the incident, told PA news agency the suspect pulled a “samurai sword from the back of his trousers”.

James Fernando, 39, said the suspect had asked one of his neighbours to “take the telephone from him to tell whoever was on the phone his location”.

“Within two seconds she realised something wasn’t right, started running, and he pulled a samurai sword from the back of his trousers,” he said.

“She shouted to the other neighbour – a boy who was on his way to school. As he’s turned around, he’s struck him on the face.”

Mr Fernando said the suspect then started “running around with the sword in his hand looking for victims”.

Another witness, who asked not to be named, said: “He was wielding his sword trying to attack the police but then they sprayed him and he ran away.

“We were very scared and trying to hide and not show ourselves through the window, because he was standing right next to our house and he could have seen us if he looked up.

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First failed asylum seeker sent from UK to Rwanda on voluntary scheme

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First failed asylum seeker sent from UK to Rwanda on voluntary scheme

The UK has sent the first failed asylum seeker to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme.

The scheme is for those who have gone through the asylum process and had permission rejected, rather than for migrants who have illegally entered Britain by crossing the Channel on small boats.

The migrant was sent on a commercial flight and handed a fee from the British taxpayer to help relocate under the terms of a deal with Rwanda.

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According to The Sun, the man of African origin claimed asylum in the UK but was rejected at the end of last year. He then accepted the offer to go to Rwanda.

He left the UK on Monday.

This was not done using the powers set out in the Safety of Rwanda Act, but rather a parallel scheme that allows someone to choose to make the trip if their attempts to claim asylum in the UK fails.

And upon arrival in Kigali, the person is able to claim around £3,000 in UK taxpayer money as help.

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Migrants ‘will be found and removed’

The development was criticised by both the Labour Party and Reform UK director Nigel Farage.

Yvette Cooper, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said: “The Tories are so desperate to get any flight off to Rwanda before the local elections that they have now just paid someone to go.

“British taxpayers aren’t just forking out £3,000 for a volunteer to board a plane, they are also paying Rwanda to provide him with free board and lodgings for the next five years. This extortionate pre-election gimmick is likely to be costing on average £2m per person.

“Former Tory Home Office ministers warned that the government’s plan was just to get token flights off before a General Election. Now we know what they mean.”

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Rwanda plan: ‘What does success mean?’

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Former UKIP leader Mr Farage said: “Don’t be conned by this new government spin on the Rwanda deal.

“This African man, who did not even cross the Channel, was refused asylum and has voluntarily accepted £3,000 and free board.

“It won’t stop the boats.”

The government’s attempts to forcefully remove people to Rwanda were announced more than two years ago, but no one has been sent so far.

Read more:
Home Office centres deserted as migrants ‘scared’ of Rwanda scheme
How many asylum seekers does the UK remove

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Earlier this month, parliament passed the Safety of Rwanda Act, and the government hopes to get flights off the ground in nine to 11 weeks.

A government spokesperson said: “We are now able to send asylum seekers to Rwanda under our migration and economic development partnership.

“This deal allows people with no immigration status in the UK to be relocated to a safe third country where they will be supported to rebuild.”

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‘Thanks to God’: Woman’s joy on making it to England after 30 attempts

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'Thanks to God': Woman's joy on making it to England after 30 attempts

Less than a week after she survived a migrant boat disaster in which five people died, Heivin is standing in a car park next to a shabby hotel near London, smiling and joyous.

After a string of failed attempts to reach England, her dream has finally been fulfilled.

“It was really hard and dangerous for me, but I finally made it here, thanks to God,” she said.

“I am very happy to be here because I think it is a safe country and it is very suitable for me. But part of me is still in shock that the journey is finally over.”

She is a slight young woman, just 18 years old but blessed with a confidence that allowed her to persevere when others might have given up.

Heivin speaks to Sky's Adam Parsons
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Heivin speaks to Sky’s Adam Parsons

She left Kurdistan around a year ago, crossing Europe to France, and living in camps, woodland and in underpasses along the way.

“It was very hard,” she says.

More on Migrant Crossings

“Especially when you’re on your own, and a young woman. It can be very dangerous.”

Kurdistan is a region that straddles Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq, and whose people have historically faced ethnic and political persecution from the governments of those countries.

Read more
Migrants spotted in the Channel and rescued by coastguard
More than half of asylum seekers allocated for removal to Rwanda cannot be found

Heivin tried 30 times to reach England from the coast of northern France, with her penultimate attempt seeing her take a place on a boat that was wildly overcrowded after it was violently hijacked by a rival group of migrants.

In the ensuing melee, five people died, including a young child.

It was shortly after that trauma that we met Heivin for the first time, as she was recovering from the ordeal of that boat. The memories still haunted her of seeing people crushed.

Even then, Heivin said she would be trying again and, in the early hours of Saturday morning, she made it. Her boat left a French beach in the early hours and chugged towards Britain.

The people smugglers who arranged the crossing, she says, were “good with us”.

“We only had to wait for three to four hours, then we went down the beach and boarded the dinghy.”

But the boat, as so often with these crossings, was ill-equipped and struggled in the water before being intercepted by a French coastguard vessel, which offered assistance.

Of nearly 60 people on board, 33 were taken off, but the others, including Heivin, remained at sea, determined to get to Britain.

“This time I went, but I always had the feeling that I would not make it and have to return like the other times.

“It was also extremely cold that night and my clothes were soaking wet. I kept saying to myself “I won’t make it”, but thank God, I did make it.”

The decisive point came when the dinghy entered British waters and, before long, the passengers on board were collected by a Border Force vessel and taken to the mainland.

“How did you feel when you saw the British boat,” I asked.

Heivin’s face breaks into a broad smile and she says “so happy” with a shake of her head that is loaded with emotion.

“I felt overjoyed. I didn’t expect that we would make it to Britain. I thought we would just end up back in France again, like the other times. When I saw the British boat, I was extremely happy – I just can’t explain it. I’m so happy.”

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