Comedian and actor Russell Brand is due to appear in a London court this afternoon to face two fresh sexual offence charges, including one count of rape.
New Allegations Add to Existing Case
The 50-year-old from Oxfordshire was charged in December with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault in relation to two new women. These alleged offences are said to have taken place in London in 2009. Brand is scheduled for his first court appearance concerning these new charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
This development comes on top of five previous charges the entertainer is already contesting. He has already pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault. Those original charges relate to alleged incidents involving four women between 1999 and 2005.
Details of the Original Five Charges
A trial for the initial five charges is scheduled to begin later this year at Southwark Crown Court. Details of those allegations, heard in court earlier in 2025, include serious claims from multiple women.
The court was told that Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth. In a separate alleged incident, he is accused of grabbing a television worker’s breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet.
Another charge alleges he grabbed a radio station worker’s face, pushed her against a wall, kissed her, and then groped her breasts and buttocks. A further charge of indecent assault claims he grabbed another woman’s forearm and attempted to drag her into a male toilet.
Background and Fallout
The charges followed a major investigation by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times, during which several women came forward with allegations against the star.
Brand rose to fame in the 2000s presenting Big Brother spin-off shows such as Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack. He was married to US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012. He is now married to Laura Gallacher, sister of presenter Kirsty Gallacher, and the couple have two children named Mabel and Peggy.
The actor’s legal battles continue to unfold, with the new charges marking a significant escalation in the case. The outcome of today's hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court will determine the next steps for the two most recent allegations.
