Russell Brand's bizarre new life annoying locals and baptising men in filthy river

Back in the '00s, Russell Brand was one of the most famous comedians on TV - but his life now looks very different.

Former Ponderland star Russell, who was today handed a hefty fine after pleading guilty to driving offences, was accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse in a joint investigation by Channel 4 ’s Dispatches programme, The Times and Sunday Times, back in 2023. The Met Police handed the CPS their file to consider charges last November.

The 49-year-old comic has strongly denied all such accusations, which allegedly occurred between the years 2006 and 2013, at the height of his stadium-filling fame.

Back then, Essex-born Russell was a familiar face on panel shows and mainstream radio programmes while starring in Hollywood movies such as St Trinian's (2007) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Now things have taken a somewhat different turn.

Since then, the comic has retreated to his family home in the upmarket Home Counties town of Henley, where he has been making something of a nuisance of himself...

Abandoned pub plans

In November, it was announced that Russell had abandoned his plans to convert The Crown Inn pub in the South Oxfordshire village of Pishill - much to the relief of furious locals.

Russell purchased the boozer in 2020 with the intention of transforming it into a recording studio where he could create his online videos and podcasts. If given the green light, Russell would have had the first floor changed into an office while converting the garage and cottage into a filming studio.

Neighbours weren't best pleased by this project, however, with approximately 20 disgruntled villagers attending a peaceful protest in a Maidensgrove field in October, where they implored the district council to reject Russell's plan.

The Henley Standard reports that Russell's application was ultimately withdrawn on the same day the council was due to deliver its final decision. The council's “draft” comments on the proposal were then published, which confirmed the application would have been refused, describing Russell's plan as an “unsuitable form of development which does not result in the suitable expansion or growth of an existing business”.

Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo told the publication: “I am very pleased that the application has been withdrawn and that the council recognised the importance of having a viable community pub and I support its role as a pub and place for residents and families and friends to gather.

“The council also noted the potential noise from a recording studio and the impact on neighbours as well. I sincerely hope that the pub can be reopened at some point as a place for residents to use. Pubs are under threat for many reasons across the constituency and rural areas where they are vital community assets.

“What definitely doesn’t help is celebrities using them for their own wins and not having a genuine desire to keep it as somewhere for locals to gather and to use, so hopefully this does set down a marker that pubs should, whenever possible, remain as pubs for locals to use and enjoy.”

Thames baptism

Since December 2023, Russell has been vocal about embracing Christianity, and in April 2024, he showed his commitment by getting baptised in the River Thames by none other than survivalist Bear Grylls. That same month, Bangor University analysis determined that the London River contained high levels of harmful bacteria, including norovirus and E. coli.

TV naturalist Steve Backshall described the findings as "mind-blowing and terrifying in equal measure", as per BBC News, stating: "Right now I wouldn't go in the river, and I would seriously reach out to anyone who is a wild swimmer, or anyone who uses the river in any capacity, to stay out of it until it has been given a chance to clear."

This didn't appear to deter Brand, however, who described his baptism as an "incredible, profound experience" in a video shared via Instagram. Emphasising the transformational effects of the sacrament, Russell told followers: "The truth is this, as a person that has in the past taken many, many substances and always been disappointed with their inability to deliver the kind of tranquility and peace and even transcendence I always felt I've been looking for, something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible, overwhelming – literally overwhelming because I was obviously underwater, and it was the River Thames – at some points. So I felt changed, transitioned.”

In September 2024, Russell returned the River Thames to baptise two other men, while wearing nothing but his boxers. Sharing images on social media, Russell declared: "It might seem a bit soon to be baptizing people, but the Apostles did it on day one, so here we are."

Not everyone has been too impressed by Russell's religious awakening, however. In May 2024, writer Marina Hyde took a sceptical view in an article penned for The Guardian. Marina wrote: "[Russell's] spiritual journey has been what you might expect of a bog-standard sex-case-turned-wingnut. He was previously a Buddhist, then earlier this year began endorsing a Roman Catholic prayer app called Hallow, and seems to have settled for now on whichever branch of the Anglican faith permits telly survivalists to rebirth you."

Legal battles

Today, Russell appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates Court, where he was accused of speeding on the motorway and exceeding a 30mph limit on a residential road. He pleaded guilty to two speeding allegations and two counts of failing to inform police if he or another individual had been driving the car.

The controversial comedian and actor was caught driving his Mini at 95mph on the M4 motorway on June 16, 2024, near Slough in Berkshire, breaking the 70mph limit. He also drove the same Mini at 37mph in a 30mph zone in Shiplake, close to his Oxfordshire home on March 23, High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court heard.

The former Radio 2 presenter, who did not attend the short hearing, was given three penalty points for the 37mph breach, and five for 95mph speeding on top of the three points already on his licence. District Judge Arvind Sharma fined him £3,457 in total for the offences after his lawyer entered the guilty pleas.

Back in November, it was reported that Russell could face criminal charges over non-recent sexual offences following a 13-month investigation into historic allegations against the star. Specialist police officers passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to determine whether or not he could face criminal charges, with Andy Furphy, Detective Superintendent of The Met issuing the following statement: "Our investigation continues and a file has now been passed to the CPS. We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward. We are committed to investigating sexual offences, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place."

Russell has maintained that all of his sexual relationships were "absolutely always consensual". Addressing the claims previously, he said: "I deny any allegations, that have been advanced. I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms."

When the claims first came to light in September 2023, Russell, who has since been interviewed by officers on three separate occasions, took to his YouTube channel, telling fans: "I've received two extremely disturbing letters or a letter and an email. One from a mainstream media TV company, one from a newspaper listing a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks, as well as some pretty stupid stuff like community festival should be stopped, that I shouldn't be able to attack mainstream media narratives on this channel. But amidst this litany of astonishing rather baroque attacks, often very serious allegations that I absolutely refute."

He continued: "What I seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations. Also, it's worth mentioning that there are witnesses whose evidence directly contradicts the narrative that these two mainstream media outlets are trying to construct, apparently, in what seems to me to be a coordinated attack.

"Now, I don't wanna get into this any further because of the serious nature of the allegations, but I feel like I'm being attacked, and plainly, they're working very closely together. We are obviously going to look into this matter 'cause it's very, very serious. In the meantime, I want you to stay close and stay awake, but more important than any of that, if you can, please stay free."

Back in November, a Met spokesperson told the Mirror: "Following an investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches in 2023, the Met received a number of reports of sexual offences from women in London and elsewhere in the country. A file of evidence has now been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for their consideration. As part of the investigation, a man in his forties has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions.

"These interviews related to a number of non-recent sexual offences which are alleged to have taken place both in and outside of London. Officers continue to support the CPS as part of their investigation."

If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999.

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