Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and assault

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault at a court hearing in London.

The broadcaster, comedian and actor appeared at Southwark Crown Court, where he formally denied the five charges for the first time.

He faces one allegation of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two further counts of sexual assault. The offences are alleged to have taken place in central London and Bournemouth between 1999 and 2005, and relate to four women.

The 49-year-old will now face a trial, which is scheduled to begin on 3 June 2026.

Brand is accused of oral rape and sexual assault against one of the women in July 2004, and is accused of raping another woman in 1999.

He is also charged with indecently assaulting a woman by grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet in 2001, and with sexually assaulting a different woman by kissing and groping her in 2004 or 2005.