Fame Under Fire: Russell Brand on Trial

Fame Under Fire is at Southwark Crown Court for the trial of comedian, actor and broadcaster Russell Brand.

Brand faces seven sexual offence charges involving six women: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The alleged offences date from 1999 to 2009.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Under UK court reporting rules, cameras and recording device are not allowed inside the courtroom. For Fame Under Fire, Russell Brand on Trial, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty will take you inside the case another way. Every day we’ll bring you updates on what the jury hears, with expert analysis of what is happening and the law behind the case.

Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.

Latest Episodes:

Cute dogs and Lion King jokes spark million dollar lawsuits Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

A small magazine with dogs in designer clothing on its covers finds itself up against Condé Nast, publisher of Vogue, in a trademark dispute over name. Both sides are defending the right to use the name ‘Dogue’.

A separate case carries a $27m claim after a comedian’s take on The Lion King’s opening lyrics went viral.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Digital Video Producer: Daniel Raza Researcher: Helena Warwick-Cross Production Coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producers: Nicky Edwards and Mark Burrows Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

D4vd charged with murder after Celeste Rivas Hernandez case update Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

D4vd, real name David Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and the unlawful mutilation of remains after the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors say the charges include special circumstances, and Burke has entered a not guilty plea.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and our resident trial attorney Shaun Kent look at what the charges mean and why the case took months to reach arrest and charge.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Researcher: Helena Warwick-Cross Production Coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Blake Lively v Justin Baldoni: trial evidence battle and what the jury may not hear Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Motions in limine reveal competing attempts to restrict evidence in the Lively–Baldoni case, including challenges to witness testimony, viral material and past controversies.

Legal arguments focus on whether the material informs the claim of retaliation, or risks biasing a jury. Our resident trial attorney Shaun Kent explains how evidentiary rules shape what may ultimately be presented in court.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Deadpool and Wolverine/Marvel Studios/Shawn Levy E Online article/Jennifer Cady NBC article/Gwen Aviles Vox article/Alex Abad-Santos

Has Blake Lively really “lost” the case against Justin Baldoni? Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

A judge has thrown out several claims in Blake Lively’s lawsuit connected to the movie It Ends With Us. The decision is based on legal thresholds around where events took place and how her role was classified.

Retaliation remains part of the case, based on alleged actions following complaints about working conditions. The court has allowed those claims to proceed. Both sides deny any wrongdoing.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty talks to trial attorney Shaun Kent about the summary judgement.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Scott Mills sacked, Epstein and Ramsey Elkholy emails Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has been sacked from the BBC following allegations relating to his personal conduct. We look at what we know, and the ongoing uncertainty around the circumstances surrounding his exit.

And there’s a fresh focus on the Epstein files. We examine exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and model scout Ramsay Elkholy. Messages between the two include degrading descriptions of young women and references to arranging meetings under the guise of professional opportunities, raising questions about coercive behaviour and the blurred boundaries between modelling work and Epstein’s access to potential victims.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Pulled Off Air: The Bachelorette crisis Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

A full season of The Bachelorette has been cancelled days before broadcast.

ABC made the decision after a video surfaced of the latest Bachelorette Taylor Frankie Paul in a domestic incident from 2023.

The case had already been through the courts. Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested and later entered a plea in abeyance on a charge of aggravated assault. This means she had accepted responsibility in court and the case was effectively put on hold. But now the case is active and open as police say further allegations have been made on both sides.

The series was completed but will not be shown.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and resident trial attorney Shaun Kent discuss what changed when the footage emerged, and whether ABC could now face legal or financial consequences.

Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.

Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 1114.

The trial of Marius Borg Høiby Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

The case against Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has gripped Norway throughout its seven weeks. He faces 39 charges at Oslo District Court, including four counts of rape, coercive control of a former partner, drug offences, and repeated breaches of restraining orders. He denies the most serious charges.

The most serious allegations center on four anonymous women who told the court they had been sexually assaulted while asleep, discovering what had happened only when police showed them video footage filmed by the defendant during the alleged offences. He maintains all sexual activity was consensual.

The trial that has shocked Norway is coming to a close. Three judges will deliberate, with a verdict expected in the coming months.

A warning: this programme contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence. If you are affected by anything in the programme, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Kanye West LOSES civil case over $57m house Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Controversial US rapper Kanye West - now known as Ye - has been ordered to pay $140,000 to a man he hired to renovate his $57m Malibu mansion.

Handyman Tony Saxon claimed he was injured while working at the beachfront house in 2021, that he wasn’t paid properly and that he was fired after refusing to run generators that released carbon monoxide inside the property.

West’s team had argued Saxon was an unlicensed contractor who “destroyed” the “architectural gem” while working as an independent contractor and that bank records showed Saxon was paid $240,000 during the six weeks he worked for the rapper.

A jury sitting in Los Angeles Superior Court heard Saxon initially filed a lawsuit in 2023, alleging unsafe working conditions, unpaid wages and wrongful termination.

In true Ye style, it’s not been a traditional trial - at one point he appeared to fall asleep while giving evidence on the stand. This claim was then refuted by his defence attorney, Andrew Cherkasky, who told the jury on Monday: “He wasn’t sleeping. He was bored. This is beneath him.”

Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss the details of what went down - plus what the latest legal battle means for future cases against the self proclaimed Yeezus.

We love hearing from you - send us your questions or comments as a voicenote or message via Whatsapp to 0330 678 1114.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Producer: Keiligh Baker Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Singer D4vd Named as Grand Jury ‘target’ Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

US singer D4vd has been named as the ‘Target’ of a Grand Jury investigation into the apparent murder of a teenage girl.

The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found decomposing in a car belonging to the singer in Hollywood last September - but so far there have been no arrests, no charges and no indictment.

Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss the latest in the legally fraught process, why crucial court documents have been sealed, and what happens next.

We also answer your pressing questions on the latest Epstein files dump - does Madeleine McCann’s name appear? And was Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch linked to the convicted sex offender?

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Producer: Keiligh Baker Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Ben Andrews and Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Blake v Justin: Nerdiness, mean girls and how to dress for court Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

We answer your pressing questions on the biggest legal cases of the moment.

First up, the Blake Lively v Justin Baldoni case in New York. How did dragons, Game of Thrones and Taylor Swift get dragged into all of this? And how might it impact Taylor?

Next, your questions on the case France’s first family, the Macrons, have brought against American online commentator and provocateur Candace Owens.

Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss nerdiness, mean girls and how to dress for court.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Producer: Keiligh Baker Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Jonny Baker and Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

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