Channel 4 has not found any new evidence in their staff investigation surrounding Russell Brand’s allegations.
Last year, the broadcaster released Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches following the claims that were made about the comedian – but all the claims are vehemently denied by him. Since then, Channel 4’s CEO, Board and Ethics Committee examined whether staff at Channel 4 were aware of the alleged improper behaviour.
The investigation also looked into if any concerns of a similar nature were known about and, if so, if these were escalated within Channel 4. It reviewed 111,984 emails and 333 files of archived hard copy documents, with 88 current and former Channel 4 employees approached for an interview.
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Channel 4 has now published a summary of its findings and recommendations put forward by the investigating team which are accepted in full. It also found no evidence to suggest that there was knowledge within the channel of the allegations contained in the Dispatches programme about Russell Brand’s behaviour while he was a presenter on Big Brother ’s Big Mouth and Kings of Comedy between 2004 and 2007.
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Sir Ian Cheshire, Chair of Channel 4 said: “The Board is satisfied that no Channel 4 employees were aware of the deeply disturbing alleged behaviour contained in Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches. However, we consider it clear that a serious allegation about Russell Brand was made in 2009 by a then serving member of staff which was not properly investigated nor escalated to Channel 4’s then senior management.
“The Board and Ethics Committee are confident that strengthened safeguarding processes introduced in the past decade mean that an allegation such as this would today be reportable through multiple routes. The investigation’s recommendations, which are accepted in full, will further strengthen Channel 4’s already rigorous safeguarding processes to further protect and uphold the welfare of all employees and those that the channel works with.”
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Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4 said: “Whilst the investigation did not find any evidence to suggest that any Channel 4 employees were aware of Russell Brand’s alleged behaviour contained in the programme, it did find that one former Channel 4 employee made a serious and concerning allegation about Russell Brand in 2009. This was not escalated to Channel 4’s then senior management team, nor investigated as it should have been. I have apologised on behalf of the organisation to the individual for this breakdown and for the distress this matter has caused.
(Image: INSTAGRAM)
“In my view, it is a matter of regret for our industry that repugnant behaviours were tolerated – and indeed appeared on-air – in the past. Production staff, employees and suppliers should never experience inappropriate behaviour. Channel 4 and I are committed to creating an environment where if any employee or person working on a Channel 4-commissioned show feels uncomfortable about behaviour towards them, then processes are in place for investigation and for appropriate action to be taken.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
