The BBC has apologised to staff members who felt unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand’s behaviour while he worked at the corporation.
The apology came as the BBC published the findings of an internal review into Brand’s time as a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music between 2006 and 2008.
The investigation considered eight complaints, two of which were made while he worked for the corporation.
One of those, which related to him urinating into a cup during a Radio 2 show, was registered formally at the time, and the BBC report has admitted it was “not dealt with effectively”.
The BBC launched the investigation after several women accused the actor and comedian in 2023 of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.
Brand has denied all allegations and said his relationships were “always consensual”.
Thursday’s report found that “only one formal complaint was made about Brand’s inappropriate conduct in the workplace” during his stint on air, and beyond that there was “no evidence that his behaviour was raised with management formally at the time”.
In its report, published on Thursday, the BBC acknowledged that Brand was “perceived to be too influential” for staff to complain about.
While only one informal complaint was made, the report said “it is clear that there were other concerns but those involved felt unable or unwilling to raise these at the time as they felt the concerns would not be taken seriously and the systems for making complaints were not as clear as they are now”.
It added that “there should have been better systems in place to ensure that Brand’s unacceptable behaviour was promptly picked up and addressed”.
The review also found that Brand had consensual sex with a competition winner from his 6 Music show on BBC premises.
Speaking to the review team, that person said that while the exchange was consensual, they felt “Brand had abused his position and taken advantage of them”.
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