Channel 4 News Launches New Daily Podcast Series Four the Record: Russell Brand on Trial

New weekday podcast from Channel 4 News will take listeners inside one of the most highly anticipated celebrity trials in recent history

Channel 4 News is launching a new daily podcast series, Four The Record: Russell Brand On Trial, bringing audiences authoritative reporting, analysis and context from inside the courtroom as one of Britain's most high-profile trials unfolds. 

Hosted by Channel 4 News Culture Correspondent Minnie Stephenson, the series will publish every weekday throughout the trial, providing listeners with the latest developments, key testimony and expert analysis.

Russell Brand’s criminal trial follows a joint investigation in 2023 by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Times and Sunday Times. This podcast is brought to audiences by some members of the team behind that separate investigation. Mr Brand has always strongly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Inside the courtroom every day

As the trial progresses, Minnie Stephenson and her team will attend court each day and record directly after, guiding listeners through the evidence, legal arguments and wider complexities of the case. The series will combine courtroom reporting with insight from journalists, legal experts and contributors who have followed the story from its earliest stages.

A new podcast strand from Channel 4 News

Russell Brand On Trial marks the launch of Four The Record, a new investigative and true crime podcast format from Channel 4 News designed to provide in-depth reporting on major stories as they develop. The series builds on Channel 4 News' reputation for distinctive journalism and investigations, offering audiences a way to follow significant news events in greater depth through visualised audio.

Minnie Stephenson, Channel 4 News Culture Correspondent, said:

"This will be one of the most anticipated and closely scrutinised trials in recent history. I've been covering the Russell Brand story since the allegations first came to light, reporting on every major development and speaking to experts behind the scenes to make sense of it all. Now, I’m bringing some of those experts to the mic, and over the coming weeks, we'll report on what happened inside the courtroom each day and explain the key developments."

Esme Wren, Editor, Channel 4 News, said:

"This story has attracted interest from around the world. Our specialist team of reporters, expertly led by Minnie, is uniquely placed to guide listeners through each day as the case unfolds in court. Through this new daily podcast, we'll unpack the media and legal jargon with the reporting power of the wider Channel 4 News team to deliver authoritative journalism, analysis and context. It's exactly the kind of major story for which this new format was created."

Four The Record: Russell Brand On Trial is available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, with new episodes every weekday afternoon for the duration of the trial. The trial is expected to start at Southwark Crown Court on Monday 12 October.

ENDS