NOEL Fielding has spoken out for the first time since his TV pal Russell Brand was jailed after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.
The Bake Off host, 53 – who frequently appeared on shows alongside the convicted rapist, 51 – said he was “horrified” to learn of Brand’s crimes.
The pair both emerged on the British comedy scene at the same time, growing close after meeting at the NME awards in the early noughties.
Fielding has recently sparked criticism for remaining tight-lipped following Brand’s harrowing eight-week trial.
But The Mighty Boosh star has now broken his silence by releasing a statement distancing himself from the disgraced comic.
Fielding describes their relationship as “professional” and says he has not been in contact with Brand for “many years”.
It reads: “I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge.
“My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice
“I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one.
“I have had no contact with him for many years.
“Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him I was appalled.
“They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”
After rising to fame, they both became staples in the British TV industry.
Brand became host of Big Brother‘s Big Mouth, while Fielding went on to star in Channel 4 comedy show The IT Crowd.
Both regularly appeared together on panel shows, with one disturbing interaction between the pair recently resurfacing after Brand’s conviction.
In the clip, Fielding jokes “we’re not rapists” during an appearance alongside Brand on Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2007.
Jonathan Ross had just moved Lily Allen, then just 21, away from Brand and Fielding.
Ross says: “I’m a bit concerned because look where you’ve put us.
“You’ve put the only sexually attractive young lady near two of the best known cocksmen of the business.
“I’m going to insist as a sort of uncle figure in Lily’s life that she moves over there. And then, Lily might go home with her dress still on.”
Fielding responds: “How dare you, we’re not rapists.”
Host Jimmy Carr then quips: “Why are you wearing a cape if you’re not a rapist?”
Brand, grinning, then says: “What if, horror of horrors, he ain’t even done a rape. You could ruin his career.”
He goes on to ask Fielding: “Have you done a rape?”
Allen later reflected on the incident in 2023: “I was on a chat show with Russell Brand and Noel Fielding and Jonathan Ross.
“And there are comments, I think, about me being raped or something, and I laugh along with it. In retrospect, that’s really horrendous.”
Another chilling clip shows Brand making a vile joke about kissing a 12-year-old girl – before claiming he thought she was a grasshopper.
The disgraced comedian said he had supposedly mistaken an insect for an adult, only for it to turn around and tell him: “I’m 12.”
Brand, then in his early 30s, made the remark on The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2.
The episode aired on October 13, 2007, during the height of their friendship.
Fielding begins the bizarre exchange about insects by asking: “How do you even know if it is a child or adult? You don’t even care do you?”
Brand replies: “It is a mistake I have made, I have had a lot of problems in the past, because I thought a grasshopper was above age.”
He then continues: “Before I know it I am in it, right, I am kissing it, I am holding it.”
Brand goes on to describe the insect turning to him, “with onyx eyes”, and saying: “I am 12.”
Brand then adds: “But it is a grasshopper.”
There is no suggestion Fielding was involved in any wrongdoing.