Noel Fielding 'Horrified and Deeply Disturbed' by Russell Brand's Crimes

Noel Fielding, presenter of The Great British Bake Off, has spoken out about Russell Brand, saying he was left horrified and appalled after learning of the comedian's crimes. Brand was sentenced on Monday to more than 10 years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

Fielding worked closely with Brand in the early 2000s, but in a statement issued to the Sun he stressed that the two have not been in touch for a long time. "I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand's crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge," he said. "My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice."

Describing how the pair presented themselves publicly, Fielding 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."

Fielding also expressed regret over material he performed with Brand during their years of collaboration. "Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him, I was appalled," he said. "They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them."

His comments come as old footage of the pair has resurfaced. In one clip from a 2007 episode of Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Fielding and Brand can be seen joking about rape alongside TV presenter Jonathan Ross. Brand also joked with Fielding about kissing and holding an underage grasshopper on an October 2007 episode of The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2, where Fielding was a frequent guest and co-host.

In that radio exchange, Fielding asked: "How do you even know if it's a child or an adult? You don't even care, do you?" Brand, who was 32 at the time, replied: "It's a mistake I've made. I've had a lot of problems in the past, because I thought a grasshopper was above age. Before I know it, I'm in it, right, I'm kissing it, I'm holding it. Then it turns around and looks at me with onyx eyes and says: 'I'm 12.'"

The two comedians first met at the NME Awards in the early 2000s and went on to perform together regularly at charity gigs, billing themselves as a comedy duo called The Goth Detectives.

Fielding has never been accused of misconduct, and there is no suggestion that he was aware of Brand's behaviour towards women. Since Brand's conviction, a further six women have accused him of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour in a new investigation by the Times and the Sunday Times.