Two more Russell Brand complainants come forward to BBC

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2023

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Two more people have come forward to the BBC with allegations against Russell Brand, the corporation has said.

The two complaints were made in the two-month period since the BBC launched a review into the comedian’s behaviour.

BBC News reports that the three other complaints were made before he was publicly accused of rape and sexual assault in September.

An updated on the BBC review into Brand’s conduct that was published on Tuesday says the complaints include “allegations of inappropriate conduct in the workplace, including urinating in bottles in a BBC studio; alleged inappropriate use of BBC cars and further allegations of conduct in and around the studio falling below the standards expected of someone engaged by the BBC”.

It brings the total number of complaints made directly to the corporation against Brand to five.

The report update added that the investigation is “in no way complete” but “it would appear that no disciplinary action was taken against Russell Brand during his engagement with the BBC in 2006-8 prior to his departure from the BBC”.

The five complaints include two individuals who raised complaints and concerns between 2006 and 2008, when Brand was employed at the corporation, and again after he left the BBC.

The complaints also include an allegation of misconduct in LA in 2008.

Brand’s use of BBC cars was called into question after The Times reported a woman’s claims that the Get Him To The Greek actor used the broadcaster’s car service to pick her up from school when she was 16 so she could visit his home.

The update said: “Due to the passage of time the BBC’s records of car bookings are no longer available.

“This means that we have not been able to identify the precise details of this or any records or details of specific journeys or bookings made for Russell Brand.

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“We have spoken to a number of individuals who either had knowledge of the BBC car arrangements at the time, or who drove vehicles for the BBC at or around the time.

“No one we have spoken to so far recalls driving Russell Brand at the time. Our investigations are continuing.”

The BBC had previously said it is looking into allegations from a woman who claims Brand exposed himself to her and then laughed about it afterwards on his Radio 2 show.

The BBC review came 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. The Dispatches programme aired on 16 September.

Two police forces as well as Channel 4, where Brand worked as a presenter, are also investigating Brand.

Thames Valley Police previously told Sky News that a woman contacted the force in September with “new information,” and that it was looking into her claims of “harassment and stalking”.

The force said the claims date back to 2018.

Thames Valley Police is the force in charge of Henley-On-Thames in Oxfordshire where Brand lives. He also owns a pub in the area.

The Metropolitan Police also confirmed previously it had received a “number of allegations of sexual offences,” all of them non-recent and said to have occurred in both London and elsewhere in the country.

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

Brand, 48, denies any allegations against him and said his relationships were “always consensual”.

UK

UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

A UK ticket-holder has won £177m in the EuroMillions draw, making them the third biggest National Lottery winner ever.

The winning numbers were 07, 11, 25, 31 and 40, with Lucky Stars 09, 12.

No one has come forward to claim it yet, and players have been urged to check their tickets as soon as they can.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at Allwyn, operator of the National Lottery, said: “Wow, it has been a truly incredible night for a single UK ticket-holder who has scooped tonight’s jaw-dropping £177m EuroMillions jackpot!

“The win has landed them a spot on the National Lottery’s Rich List, as they have become the third biggest National Lottery winner of all time!

“What a wonderful win right before Christmas, and we cannot wait to pay out this amazing prize.”

An anonymous UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195m – the biggest National Lottery win ever – on 19 July 2022.

The second-highest winners are Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, who scooped up a then-record £184.3m on 10 May 2022 with a Lucky Dip ticket.

UK

David Coote: FA investigating allegations referee discussed giving yellow card before match

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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David Coote: FA investigating allegations referee discussed giving yellow card before match

The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.

Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.

The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”

Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.

He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.

“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.

“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.

Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.

That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.

After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.

“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.

“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.

“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”

It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”

UK

Davina McCall feeling ‘stronger and stronger’ after brain tumour surgery

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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Davina McCall feeling 'stronger and stronger' after brain tumour surgery

Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.

In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.

Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.

Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.

“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.

“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.

“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”

The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.

‘Out of the woods’

Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.

“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.

He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.

Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”

McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.

She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.