Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault.

During a brief hearing at Southwark crown court in London on Friday, the comedian and actor formally denied the five sexual offence charges for the first time.

The 49-year-old appeared at Westminster magistrates court earlier this month where he heard details of allegations against him.

The offences are said to have taken place against four women between 1999 and 2005.

Brand, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, who faces one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, is due to stand trial on 3 June next year at the same court.

Wearing a grey blazer over a striped shirt, Brand walked out of the dock in sunglasses and thanked the usher as he left. He will remain on conditional bail until the trial.

Brand was charged following an investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times in which several women made allegations against him. He previously told his 11.2 million followers on X that he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.

Brand presented a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008 as well as the Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack in the 00s.