New Russell Brand controversy: Comedian alleges two UK showbiz stars are paedophiles to shocked TV audience
Comic Russell Brand claimed a pair of male celebrities were child abusers to a large television studio audience yesterday.
During a break in the filming of Brand X, his U.S. TV chat show that is filmed in London but not shown in Britain, Brand, 37, said the two men were paedophiles during a monologue about disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Saville and Operation Yewtree, the police investigation into historical child abuse in the world of showbusiness.
The Daily Star reported he told the stunned crowd: 'And you've got the lesser ones... the underlings. There's ______.'
Russel Brand, pictured arriving for filming of Brand X at the Duchess Theatre on March 14, has alleged that two TV stars are paedophilesHe added: 'And some say old ______ is playing around.'
Neither of the men mentioned have ever been convicted of a sex offence.
He also told the 200 guests at the Duchess Theatre in Covent Garden that the investigation made the controversy surrounding the call he made to actor Andrew Sachs joking about sleeping with his granddaughter, egged on by TV star Jonathan Ross, not quite as controversial.
More... Savile probe: 82-year-old man from Berkshire is arrested on suspicion of sexual offences Two senior Doctor Who staff 'used their jobs to sexually exploit young male fans of BBC show in 1980s'Speaking of the incident, widely known as Sachsgate, he said: 'It puts the whole Sachsgate thing into perspective doesn't it?
'"I f***** your adult granddaughter". Not quite the same, is it?'
A member of the audience said the comedian and movie actor made the audience uncomfortable when he made the claims.
He said: 'No-one had heard these stars linked to the Savile case. They didn't have a clue until then.'
Controversial: Russell Brand in West Hollywood. He said Sachsgate paled in significance to the current controversy over alleged sexual abuseThe newspaper contacted the agents of the two men named for comment, one said they had not heard of the incident and had no comment. The other was not available.
Brand and Jonathan Ross caused a national scandal in 2008 when they left smutty messages on veteran actor Andrews Sachs's answerphone during a pre-recorded Radio 2 show.
Ross said that Brand had sex with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
Break-up: Katy Perry and Russell Brand married in 2010 but are now divorcedIt led to the departure of the Radio 2 station controller, and both Brand and Ross left the BBC as a result of the fallout. The two apologised for their actions.
Brand married pop star Katy Perry in 2010 but filed for divorce after just 14 months of marriage in December 2011, citing 'irreconcilable differences.'
Brand said in a statement at the time: 'Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends.'
Brand (left) previously got into hot water with Jonathan Ross (right) after the two made a prank phone call to veteran actor Andrew Sachs