Noel Fielding left 'horrified' by Russell Brand conviction and was 'completely unaware' of crimes

Noel Fielding has said he is "horrified and deeply disturbed" by his former friend Russell Brand's rape conviction.

The Great British Bake Off presenter, 53, had faced growing pressure to respond after Brand was handed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence earlier this week.

In a statement, Mr Fielding said that he had been "completely unaware" of Brand's crimes.

The Mighty Boosh creator also characterised their years of collaboration as strictly work-related.

He told The Sun: "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."

He added: "I have had no contact with him for many years."

Despite this framing, the pair were widely regarded as close comedy allies during the noughties and 2010s, earning the joint nickname "The Goth Detectives" for their shared emo-inspired aesthetic.

Mr Fielding's remarks came as uncomfortable footage from the 2007 Big Fat Quiz of the Year resurfaced after Brand's conviction.

In the clip, Jonathan Ross said singer Lily Allen, then 21 and the sole female guest, had been seated beside Brand and Mr Fielding, whom he called two of the industry's best-known womanisers.

When Mr Fielding protested, "We're not rapists," host Jimmy Carr queried why he was wearing a cape.

"It's a Jack the Ripper cape. He wasn't a rapist, he was just..." Mr Fielding began, before Brand interjected: "A serial murderer."

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Brand then asked Mr Fielding directly: "Have you done a rape?" — to which the Great British Bake Off presenter raised his cape across his face and replied: "Well, if I have, I'd be leaving the scene of the crime like this."

Ms Allen was visibly uneasy throughout the exchange, looking down at her hands and grimacing as the jokes continued around her.

Speaking to Grazia UK in 2023, the singer described the moment as "really horrendous," explaining that she had not spoken up at the time because of the prevailing "culture."

Mr Fielding acknowledged on Friday that revisiting such material had left him "appalled," describing the jokes as "horrible and inappropriate" and adding: "I very much regret them."

In a 2016 BBC interview, Mr Fielding appeared to allude to Brand's predatory reputation when discussing a potential joint tour.

He said: "I'd hunt for clues while Russell seduced the first four rows of the venue (he's trying to cut down)."

A photograph of the duo accompanying that piece has since been removed from Instagram.

Mr Fielding also referenced their bond during an appearance on Lorraine Kelly's ITV1 programme, revealing that the pair "occasionally" meditated together.

Brand, 51, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on November 5 of raping a 21-year-old fan he met at a 2009 stand-up performance at the Hammersmith Apollo, along with three counts of sexual assault against television and radio workers between 2004 and 2009.

The jury acquitted him on two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that investigations into two further rape allegations remain active.