The Great British Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding has publicly addressed his past friendship and working relationship with Russell Brand, distancing himself from his former comedy collaborator.
In a statement given to The Sun, the Channel 4 host reflected on their shared history across British television, radio, and live comedy, while condemning Brand’s actions and expressing support for the victims.
“I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge. My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.
“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.
“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.”
Fielding and Brand regularly appeared together during the mid-to-late 2000s—most notably as a duo on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Brand’s BBC Radio 2 show—developing an eccentric, double-act dynamic that drew widespread media coverage at the time.
Fielding, who has presented The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 since 2017, is the latest prominent figure from the UK comedy circuit to formally address their past professional ties to Brand.