Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says he regrets appearing on Russell Brand’s podcast in July 2024, after the Guardian reported that the appearance came months after police began investigating sexual assault allegations against the comedian.

The disclosure follows Farage’s criticism this week of Labour for “cosying up to” and “promoting” Brand a decade ago. According to the Guardian, Brand has since been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

In reporting published Nov. 12, the Guardian’s Rowena Mason said Farage joined Brand’s online show in the United States nine months after the police investigation began. The appearance preceded the charges brought against Brand in April 2025.

A spokesperson for Farage told the newspaper: “Nigel regrets his appearance on the show. His thoughts are with the victims who have suffered immensely because of what Russell Brand has done.”

Reform sources told the Guardian the appearance was unplanned and that Farage was pulled into the room during a visit to America.

The allegations against Brand became public in September 2023 through a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4. Police subsequently interviewed him under caution that autumn.

Farage had discussed the allegations on GB News that September, establishing that he knew about them before joining the podcast. At the time, he said he would not prejudge Brand’s guilt or innocence, while describing some of Brand’s own accounts of his behaviour towards women as “disturbing, abusive and not very pretty.”

The Guardian reported that the allegations were not mentioned during the July 2024 episode. Instead, Farage and Brand discussed their shared opposition to the establishment, with Farage arguing that traditional left-right political divisions were breaking down.

Since the verdict, Farage has also expressed support for Brand’s former partner Jemima Goldsmith, who accused Brand of assault. He said he knew Goldsmith and believed her account of violent and abusive behaviour, adding: “The judicial system has proved to have actually worked.”

Sources