Awkward moment GMB’s Susanna Reid grills Richard Madeley over Russell Brand interview

SUSANNA Reid today awkwardly took heat from her Good Morning Britain co-host Richard Madeley over an interview he once did with Russell Brand.

GMB presenter Richard appears to have made the stinging comment when he appeared briefly in a new documentary which accused Brando of rape and sexual abuse, which he denies.

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Richard Madeley was questioned by Susanna Reid about his meeting with Russell Brand Credit: Rex

Richard looked surprised when ITV co-host Susanna reminded him of the interview this morning and shared his memories of the past encounter.

Brand appeared on Channel 4’s Richard And Judy in 2007, promoting his second autobiography, My Booky Wook 2.

Madeley’s wife Judy Finnegan introduced the guest saying: “It’s a searingly honest story about sex and drug addiction, bulimia and self-harm, and it’s written by Russell Brand – the lovely, innocent Russell Brand.”

Richard then added the remark, “The butter wouldn’t melt.”

Susanna asked him live on air today if he said that knowing of any allegations against Brando.

Madeley said he was aware of the star’s reputation as a “womanizer” but said he was not aware of any criminal charges.

Comedian and movie star Brand has denied new allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse against four women, including one who was just 16 at the time.

Claims made in a joint investigation by The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches include that he raped a woman against a wall in his Los Angeles apartment.

The four women say he assaulted them between 2006 and 2013 at the height of his fame, when he was a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4, as well as acting in Hollywood films.

The allegations include not only rape and sexual assault, but also emotional and physical abuse.

The Metropolitan Police urged other potential victims to come forward after 48-year-old Brand faced multiple allegations of abuse.

Brand posted a video on his own YouTube channel on Friday night, denying any wrongdoing, before the allegations were made public.

The married father-of-two insisted he “absolutely rejects” the allegations and described past relationships as “always consensual”.

Brand accepted he was “promiscuous” at the height of his fame, but denied any criminal element in his behaviour.

Richard initially responded, “Is there?”, when he was told today that there was a recording of him and Judy interviewing Brando on Saturday’s Channel 4 Dispatches investigation.

He said he was “on the plane” when the documentary aired on Saturday night.

After the moment was replayed on ITV this morning, Susanna asked her fellow presenter: “Did you say that in a way that you kind of knew his reputation or was there something else?”

Richard paused before replying that it was “a long time ago”.

He went on to say: “I never heard any allegations that he was a rapist or that he did anything criminal – I never heard that.

“If I did, we would have to deal with it in the interview.

“Um, however, as he himself said in a statement he issued before the release of the documentary, he had a terrible reputation as a womanizer – to use an old-fashioned word.”

Richard again insisted he had “never heard any allegations” that Brand was “anything but a consensual operator in the area”.

The presenter added: “But, yes, he was an operator – and where there was a sexual opportunity, he would take it.

“And he says it himself, he was very promiscuous – but I have to say that I was working at Channel 4 at the time, I never actually heard any specific allegations that he was breaking the law.”

Both the BBC and Channel 4 have launched investigations into any possible wrongdoing by Brand while he was employed by them.

The deputies also called for police action.

Caroline Nokes, Conservative chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, called the allegations “incredibly shocking and criminal” and “first and foremost a matter for the police”.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I very much hope that complaints will be made to the Metropolitan Police and indeed in the United States.

“This deserves and needs a criminal investigation, because for too long we have seen men – and the perpetrators of these types of crimes are almost always men – not held accountable for their behavior and actions.”

Brand’s father Ron Brand, 80, today came to his defense – calling the allegations “unsubstantiated” and asking: “Is this really the most important thing going on in the world?”

He labeled the allegations as “revenge” in Facebook posts, MailOnline reported.

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Madeley said he was previously unaware of any criminal charges against BrandCredit: Rex

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Madeley and wife Judy Finnegan interviewed Brando in 2007 on their C4 show Credit: Channel 4

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Brand was promoting his second autobiography My Booky Wook 2 Credit: Channel 4 at the time

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Source: newstars.edu.vn

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