Noel Fielding breaks silence on Russell Brand after conviction

Noel Fielding regrets his past jokes with Russell Brand

Brand was recently sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, involving four women.

The comedians were frequently seen together during the 2000s, sharing the screen on several occasions and working on projects such as Brand’s BBC radio programmes and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. 

Their on-screen chemistry often gave the impression that they were close friends, but Fielding has now clarified that their connection was primarily work-related.

Speaking to The Sun, he said he had no idea about Brand’s crimes until they were brought to light, describing the revelations as something that left him “horrified and deeply disturbed”.

He also expressed his support for the women who came forward, saying: “My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.”

Fielding went on to explain that, despite their frequent collaborations, he never considered Brand a personal friend. He said:

“I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one. I have had no contact with him for many years.”

A resurfaced TV clip has left Noel Fielding facing uncomfortable questions

His comments follow Brand’s sentencing to 10 years and six months in prison. The comedian was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, with the offences involving four women.

Since the verdict, attention has also returned to an uncomfortable exchange from a 2007 episode of The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. 

Brand and Fielding appeared on the panel alongside Lily Allen and Jonathan Ross, who made a joke suggesting Allen should be kept away from the two comedians because of their reputation with women.

Fielding responded, “How dare you – we’re not rapists,” before the conversation continued with several more jokes about sexual assault.

The exchange originally attracted criticism when it resurfaced in 2023, shortly after the allegations against Brand emerged. 

Allen later spoke about the incident in an interview with Grazia, admitting that she had laughed at the jokes when they were first made but found the footage deeply uncomfortable when watching it years later.

She described the exchange as “really horrendous”, explaining that her reaction at the time had been shaped by the attitudes towards comedy back then.

“It makes me uncomfortable, but I don’t think I felt that at the time, because it was the culture,” she said.

Fielding has now addressed his part in the exchange, acknowledging that the jokes were inappropriate and that he sees them very differently today.

“Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him I was appalled. They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”