BBC and Channel 4 investigate rape Allegations against ex-employee Russell Brand

British actor and comedian Russell Brand is facing allegations of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse spanning seven years, which he vehemently denies.

Four women have accused Brand of sexual misconduct between 2006 and 2013, during his tenure as a presenter for BBC Radio 2, Channel 4, and his Hollywood acting career, as revealed in a joint media investigation on Saturday.

Both the BBC and Channel 4, as well as production company Banijay UK, have initiated internal inquiries into these serious allegations.

A spokesperson for the BBC told AFP, "We are urgently addressing the concerns raised,"

These allegations emerged following a collaborative investigation by The Sunday Times, the Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches.

Banijay UK released a statement saying, "We have launched a prompt internal investigation and will fully cooperate with any information requests from our broadcasting partners and external authorities."

According to reports by The Times, multiple women have levelled accusations of Brand's alleged coercive, abusive, and predatory behaviour.

In a video message released on Friday, Russell Brand refuted the "highly serious criminal allegations" made against him. He disclosed that he had received letters from a television company and a newspaper containing a list of "a series of shocking and aggressive accusations."

Amidst this array of astonishing and rather elaborate claims, there are some very grave allegations that I categorically deny," he asserted in the video, which he posted online.

Media reports indicate that one woman alleges Brand sexually assaulted her at his residence in Los Angeles, while another claims he assaulted her during a three-month relationship when she was just 16 years old and still in school.

Internationally known for his previous marriage to pop star Katy Perry, Russell Brand commenced his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s. He hosted the chat show "Big Brother's Big Mouth," a spin-off of the popular reality TV series, for three years starting in 2004. He also portrayed rock star Aldous Snow in the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and its 2010 sequel, "Get Him To The Greek."

The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed that they are aware of the allegations; however, they have not yet received any formal reports related to this case.

They emphasized, "If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, regardless of when it occurred, we encourage them to contact the police."