Noel Fielding regrets 'horrible jokes' about rape with Russell Brand

Noel Fielding has broken his silence following Russell Brand's sentencing, stating he is "horrified and deeply disturbed" by the crimes. Brand was jailed for 10 and a half years after being convicted of rape and sexual assault. Fielding, known for presenting The Great British Bake Off, insisted he had "no contact" with Brand for many years and was unaware of the offences until they became public.

In a statement reported by The Sun, Fielding said his thoughts were with the women whose "courage brought him to justice." He described his past professional relationship with Brand as being "for the cameras and in the media," rather than personal, and confirmed he had not spoken to him in a long time.

Regret over past jokes

Fielding also addressed jokes made alongside Brand in the past. "Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him I was appalled," Fielding stated. "They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them."

His comments follow the circulation of a resurfaced clip from the 2007 Channel 4 programme The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. During the show, Brand and Fielding engaged in a segment where they joked about rape. Host Jimmy Carr questioned their proximity to singer Lily Allen, who was the sole woman on the panel at the time. Jonathan Ross, also a panellist, expressed concern about Allen being placed near "two of the best-known cocksmen of the business."

In the clip, after Carr's remarks, Brand asked Fielding, "Have you done a rape?" Fielding responded with a joke about leaving the scene of a crime, before Brand added, "What if, horror of horrors, he ain’t even done a rape. You could ruin his reputation."

Other public figures distance themselves

The resurfaced clip and Fielding's statement come amid wider fallout from Brand's convictions. Jonathan Ross also issued a statement distancing himself from Brand and comedian David Walliams, who faces accusations of sexual misconduct. Ross stated he was "horrified by the revelations" and, while acknowledging past friendships, affirmed he was "genuinely unaware of their conduct" during that period. Walliams denies any wrongdoing.

Russell Brand is expected to serve half of his 10 and a half year sentence before being released on licence and will be placed on the sex offenders' register for life. His career spanned television presenting, comedy, and Hollywood films.