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99 episodes

“Half-truths spun into lies” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 15
30/10/2026 | 27 mins.
On the 15th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the prosecution delivered their closing statement to the jury.

Riel Karmy-Jones, the lead barrister for the prosecution, emphasised the complainants are six women who do not know each other, and have not sought compensation or the limelight.

She described Russell Brand’s evidence as “half-truths spun into lies”, and suggested his account had been “wholly constructed” from the prosecution case.

The defence will deliver their closing statement on Monday.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/
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Brand's wife gives evidence | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 14
29/10/2026 | 11 mins.
On the 14th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the wife of the comedian and christian influencer, Laura Brand, gave evidence. She told the court it was “clear it was hard for him to be monogamous” when the pair began dating in 2006, causing them to break up in 2007. After getting back together and marrying in 2017, she said Brand was “caring, kind” and “a wonderful father to our children.”

In cross-examination, the prosecution highlighted Laura Brand did not know the comedian during the time period relating to 5 of the counts.

Two former girlfriends of Russell Brand also provided statements as character witnesses.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brand gives evidence | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 13
28/10/2026 | 25 mins.
On episode 13 of the Trial of Russell Brand podcast, Russell Brand gave evidence for the first time.

Brand’s defence went through the details of each alleged offence, which relate to six women. The comedian told the court two of the allegations of rape were actually consensual sex. He said a third alleged rape did not happen. Consent, Brand insisted, was “fundamental… more important than sex itself”.

During cross-examination, the prosecution repeatedly asked why Brand hadn’t mentioned some of the details he gave in court during his earlier police interviews.

Brand said “there’s been escalating recollection”. He denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales
NHS - Help after rape and sexual assault
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Invented, reimagined | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 12
27/10/2026 | 9 mins.
On the twelfth day of the trial of Russell Brand, the jury were directed to find the defendant not guilty on one count of indecent assault. The judge, Justice Bennathan, told the jury there was insufficient evidence for count 2. This is where Brand was alleged to have grabbed the arm of a woman in the offices of MTV and attempted to drag her into a toilet.

However, a new count of “attempted indecent assault” was introduced in relation to the same incident.

The court also heard the prosecution read the prepared statements Russell Brand gave police when he was initially interviewed. In those statements the former comedian suggested complainants had “invented” allegations or “reimagined” consensual sexual encounters, after what he called “fictitious and defamatory” reporting in the press.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.

Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Like he had been possessed" | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 11
26/10/2026 | 13 mins.
On the eleventh day of the trial of Russell Brand, a former assistant of the comedian remembered him having an “insane sexual appetite”. While Helen Berger didn’t remember witnessing Brand doing anything illegal, in her statement she said that she had worked with lots of celebrities around whom bad behaviour was normalised. “This was on another level.”

The court also heard that the sister of Woman 3 was told Russell Brand’s eyes had become completely blank, like he was “possessed”, when he allegedly assaulted Woman 3 at a birthday party in 2004.

Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.

Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day, and then join Luke Jones to unpack it all.

Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.
Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here: https://www.thetimes.com/subscribe/timesinvestigates/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About The Trial of Russell Brand

The Trial of Russell Brand is season 14 of Times Investigates, bringing you award-winning investigative and true crime podcasts from The Times & The Sunday Times. From war zones to suburban homes, pursuing brutal criminals and cult leaders, our podcasts go further than any other to uncover the truth.In season one, war correspondent Anthony Loyd investigates the fate of his colleague John Cantlie, who was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State.In season two, crime correspondent John Simpson breaks down the wall of silence surrounding the killing of 14-year-old Corey Junior DavisIn season three Berlin correspondent Oliver Moody uncovers the story of Hans Globke, the Nazi bureaucrat who laid the legal basis for the Holocaust - and helped build the modern German stateIn season four, columnist David Aaronovitch follows the trail of charm and deception left by businessman Lex Greensill through the corridors of power in BritainIn season five, special correspondent Emily Dugan asks whether the wrong man was sent to prison for a brutal attack on a mother of twoIn season six, Middle East correspondent Louise Callaghan steps into the weird world of ‘kittens’, ‘lions’, and televangelism surrounding a cult leaderIn season seven, journalists Brenna Daldorph and David Aaronovitch explore the dark past behind some of Britain’s wealthiest stately homesIn season eight, feature writer Andrew Billen exposes a very British scandal at the world-famous university college, Christ Church, OxfordIn season nine, David Aaranovitch steps into the online world of Patriotic Alternative, a far-right group using the Covid pandemic as a recruiting toolIn season ten, journalists Peter Gillman and Emanuele Midolo investigate the death of one of our own, David Holden, the reporter whose killing became a Cold War whodunnitIn season 11, social affairs editor James Beal follows a trail leading from a quiet British town to frozen Canada, where he discovers a man allegedly selling death onlineIn season 12, reporter Mario Ledwith returns to his hometown in Northern Ireland, seeking answers about the bloody 1987 Remembrance Sunday attackIn season 13, The Sunday Times’s Insight team investigates how Nigel Farage came to depend upon a crypto enthusiast, gambler and convicted fraudsterIn season 14, journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace join Luke Jones to report daily from the trial of Russell Brand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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