Russell Brand walked around Channel 4 colleagues naked whilst presenting shows for the broadcaster but his behaviour was indulged as 'Russell being Russell', investigation finds

Russell Brand used to walk around his Channel 4 colleagues naked whilst presenting programmes for the broadcaster but his behaviour was dismissed as 'Russell being Russell', an investigation has found.

The TV star is also accused of making women he worked with uncomfortable and asking runners to get the phone numbers of female audience members.

Brand would also often wear only his underwear while in his dressing room according to the inquiry commissioned by television company Endemol, who the presenter worked for from 2004 to 2008.

No formal complaints were made at the time and informal complaints, made by junior staff, 'were not escalated or adequately addressed at the time', a summary of the investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin stated.

It added that staff, and in particular junior employees, felt an inability to raise concerns about Brand as he was regarded as 'talent'.

Russell Brand pictured presenting Big Brother's Little Brother in 2006. He used to walk around his Channel 4 colleagues naked whilst presenting programmes for the broadcaster, an investigation has found

Brand pictured in Los Angeles in 2019. The TV star is also accused of making women he worked with uncomfortable and asking runners to get the phone numbers of female audience members

The presenter pictured on Big Brother 7 in 2006

They were also hindered by a fear they may lose their jobs as well as a view that the presenter's actions were tolerated by senior colleagues.

Two witnesses reported being aware of an allegation that Brand, who presented Big Brother's Big Mouth for Endemol, would make crew wait outside his dressing room as he masturbated, The Times reports.

The inquiry, however, did not find 'evidence of any formal or informal complaint being raised about this'.

The host, who also fronted Endemol shows including Kings of Comedy and Big Brother’s Celebrity Hijack, was found by the report to have conducted consensual sexual relationships with some colleagues, including at least one junior crew member.

Brand was also discovered to be known to have had relationships with audience members.

The inquiry found no evidence of colleagues being aware of Brand's sexual relationship with a runner, who has since claimed the presenter exposed himself to her in 2004

The investigation, as well as looking into Brand's behaviour, also explored how aware Endemol executives were of alleged misconduct and the safeguarding procedures at the time.

It found there was 'no clear escalation process in place during the respective period, and minimal training provided, on "respect in the workplace", the code of conduct or ethical practices'.

Banijay UK, which now owns Endemol, commenced the inquiry in September after Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse.

The presenter denied all allegations and described his relationships as 'absolutely always consensual', adding that such accusations were 'very, very hurtful'.

Banijay UK executive chairman Patrick Holland apologised to anyone affected and those who might have felt unable to talk about their experiences.

He added that support and escalation procedures had not been followed properly and that they had since improved their protocols, along with others in the industry.

Brand speaking to demonstrators at Parliament Square in 2015

Brand (pictured, in Los Angeles in 2018), who hosted shows on Channel 4 made by Endemol from 2004 to 2008, would also often wear only his underwear while in his dressing room according to the inquiry commissioned by television company

Brand was also discovered to be known to have had relationships with audience members

The report comes nine months after The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4 investigators conducted interviews with Endemol and Banijay staff and reviewed documents while analysing Brand's behaviour.

The broadcaster apologised to a former employee in April after a 'serious and concerning' accusation she made against Brand in 2009 was not investigated properly.

The BBC confirmed it had received five complaints about Brand, who hosted radio shows for the broadcaster from 2006 to 2008.