‘We worked with Russell Brand and we felt like his pimp’, claims ex-colleagues

Russell Brand’s former colleagues have claimed they felt like “pimps” after he would allegedly get them to approach audience members so he could meet them after filming.

The comedian and actor has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse after claims by four women.

But Russell has denied all the allegations against him – slamming them as "aggressive attacks". He says there are "witnesses whose evidence directly contradicts the narratives" by The Sunday Times and Channel 4' Dispatches making a "co-ordinated attack".

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On Saturday afternoon (September 16) The Times published the claims – which come from four alleged victims.

The publication has also claimed that there were reported incidents during the early years of his TV career.

Channel 4 runners and TV researchers alleged that Russell would get staff to find female audience members – this was so he could allegedly meet them after filming.

A separate claim was also made by two former crew members, who worked on Big Brother’s EFourum, a live spin-off debate show.

The programme was presented by Russell and it would eventually become Big Brother’s Big Mouth.

They claimed how Russell made them feel like they were working as a “pimp” for him.

A show runner aged 24 at the time, claimed she and Brand had a relationship while working together – which she claims he then told her to keep a “complete secret”.

Rachel alleged Russell told her he “had it written into his contract that he wasn’t allowed to have any sexual contact with anyone working on Big Brother”.

According to The Times, Endemol said they have reviewed the contract – and found that Russell did not have a clause pertaining to sexual relationships.

Another researcher claimed Russell’s behaviour was reported to production managers at Endemol – the company commissioned by Channel 4 to produce EFourum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth.

The researchers alleged they complained to staff – although its' not clear if these were passed to the production company – about Russell pursuing members of the audience – but their concerns were claimed to have been dismissed.

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A spokesman for Banijay UK, which bought production company Endemol in 2020, told The Times they had reviewed files and correspondence.But they could find no records of issues about Russell’s behaviour being formally raised or discussed with Endemol.

It said: “We take our duty of care to our cast, crew and staff extremely seriously" Then added: “We are sorry these women did not feel supported and protected while working on these productions and in light of these serious allegations encourage to them to contact us in confidence.”

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