THE BBC is facing questions amid claims Russell Brand used its car service to take a teenage girl from her school to his home.
The woman, who accuses Brand of grooming and sexual assault, told The Times she was taken to and from the comedian and actor’s home in north London in chauffeur-driven car paid for by the corporation.
The claims come as part of an in-depth investigation by The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4 into allegations against Brand, including rape and sexual assault, made by four women.
He has strongly denied the accusations against him and said all of his relationships have been consensual.
The woman, who has been referred to in reporting as Alice, said she once had to punch Brand in the stomach after he allegedly forced his penis down her throat, causing her to choke.
Brand (below) was 30 and working as a presenter on BBC 2 when Alice says she met him aged 16.
She told The Times: “The first time I used [the BBC car], he told me it was booked to take him to his radio show but he had a friend taking him instead so I should use that car.”
She said that the BBC driver “took me to my grandma’s house one day from Russell’s house. And then when the car picked me up from school, it was the same car . . . I knew that that was a BBC car”.
Brand resigned from the BBC amid a scandal after he and fellow BBC Radio 2 DJ Jonathan Ross left messages on actor Andrew Sachs’s (above) answering machine, claiming he had slept with the Fawlty Towers star’s granddaughter.
'Turning a blind eye'
Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the culture, media and sport committee said: “Once again in this case we hear of media companies 'open secrets' and 'turning a blind eye'.
“It’s hard to see how we will be able to ignore this. The committee will be meeting on Tuesday morning to determine our approach.”
The BBC told The Times it had clear expectations and polices around conduct at work and insisted it had taken the Sachs affair seriously.
A spokesperson added: “We hope that demonstrates that the BBC takes issues seriously and is prepared to act.
“Indeed, we would add that in addition to acting on the serious editorial breach at the time, the BBC has, over successive years, evolved its approach to how it manages talent and indeed how it deals with complaints or issues raised.
“We will always listen to people if they come forward with any concerns, on any issue related to any individual working at the BBC — past or present.”
The outlets leading the investigation into Brand have said they gave the entertainer, who now broadcasts conspiracy theories on his popular YouTube channel, eight days to reply to detailed allegations.
Lawyers for Brand reportedly complained they were not in a position to respond to the “large litany of questions” posed by the outlets and claimed there was a “deeply concerning agenda to all this, namely the fact that he is an alternative media broadcaster competing with mainstream media”.
In a video statement posted to social media before the story broke, Brand claimed there was a mainstream media conspiracy against him which involved “some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute”.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "We are aware of media reporting of a series of allegations of sexual assault.
"At this time, we have not received any reports in relation to this. If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault we would encourage them to contact police.”
