BBC Sounds’ Fame Under Fire will be providing daily updates from the trial of Russell Brand.
Hosted by MediaCity-based journalist and presenter Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, the series launched in 2024 with Diddy on Trial, which reached number one in the UK podcast charts, earning critical acclaim for its “clarity, depth and cultural impact.”
It’s since gone on to cover the trial of Duane “Keefe D” Davis for the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, which concluded in August – that reached millions of people across podcast, YouTube and social media platforms. In May it won Gold for Best Speech Entertainment at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS).
The trial of Russell Brand will be the first court case that the series has covered in the UK.
Brand has been charged with 3 counts of rape, 3 counts of sexual assault and 1 count of indecent assault. He has denied all charges.
Mutanda-Dougherty will report from Southwark Crown Court each day of the trial from 12 October.
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“People are following high-profile trials in more ways than ever before. Alongside traditional reporting, there are podcasts, TikToks, livestreams, reaction videos and endless online commentary,” she explained.
“The challenge is that information moves quickly, and a lot of it is inaccurate or incomplete.
“Fame Under Fire helps listeners understand what has happened, what we know to be true, and why it matters. It combines rigorous reporting with straightforward storytelling to make complex legal proceedings accessible for everyone.”
There will also be a pre-trial episode on 8 October, outlining the charges against Brand, explaining the legal process, and giving audiences an essential guide to the case.
Fame Under Fire is produced by Louise Clarke, with Clare Fordham as series editor for BBC News Long Form Audio.
It was commissioned by Rhian Roberts for BBC Sounds.
BBC News Long Form Audio is based at MediaCity.
