The BBC and Channel 4 have attracted fire for their previous support for Russell Brand, who was jailed this week after being convicted of raping a fan in early 2009.
asserted
who → attract → 2009
However, it can be revealed that he had another powerful ally at this point, in the form of ITV executive Alison Sharman, the station's controller of factual and daytime from 2005.
asserted
he → reveal → 2005
Much as controller Lesley Douglas supported Brand and protected him at BBC Radio 2, sources indicate that Sharman promoted him at ITV – where he was 'lionised', according to a source.
uncertain
he → support → source
Ms Sharman had met Brand in 2006 at the Edinburgh festival – which she chaired – and was a vocal supporter.
asserted
she → meet → which
He turned up on Richard and Judy's Book Club on ITV (one of her shows) and was booked multiple times in the following years on the daytime show Loose Women.
asserted
He → turn → show
In 2010 he told the Loose Women that he had kissed Meghan Markle when she was an extra on the film Get Him To The Greek.
asserted
she → tell → Greek
Pictures of Ms Sharman and Brand, alongside Brand's agent John Noel, have disappeared this week from the internet.
asserted
Pictures → disappear → internet
The BBC and Channel 4 have attracted fire for their previous support for Russell Brand, who was jailed this week after being convicted of raping a fan in early 2009 (pictured hosting the BRIT Awards in 2007)
asserted
who → attract → 2007
Ms Sharman did not respond to requests for comment.
asserted
Sharman → respond → comment
A source said: 'Russell Brand was booked to address ITV's senior management conference in January 2007 and will have been well paid to do so.
'
asserted
Brand → say → January
He was very late turning up and he seemed to be as high as a kite.
asserted
he → turn → kite
He then gave a speech which was absolutely vile about women and having sex with them.
asserted
which → give → them
We'd previously had top businessmen address ITV.
asserted
businessmen → have → ITV
People were thinking, 'What has become of this company, that our top brass are sitting here listening to this drivel?'
asserted
brass → think → drivel
The source added: 'Some people walked out rather than listen to this foul stream of misogyny.
'
asserted
people → add → misogyny
Afterwards, Michael Grade [ITV's newly appointed executive chairman] was heard to say he couldn't believe he had been booked.
asserted
he → appoint → ?
'What I couldn't believe was that even after this, he kept being booked to appear on shows.'
asserted
he → believe → shows
Another source revealed some ITV executives had been keen to book Brand in 2006 as the host of the Brit Awards; but the controller of entertainment, Claudia Rosencrantz, vetoed it because Brand was 'utterly gross and repellent'.
asserted
Brand → reveal → it
After she left ITV, Brand was booked the following year, hosting the event in 2007.
asserted
Brand → leave → 2007
Brand's career was promoted by his agent John Noel, who took him on when he was still at MTV and supervised his launch into the mainstream.
asserted
he → promote → mainstream
Noel also oversaw his rehab for heroin addiction in 2002; and a later stint in residential treatment for sex addiction.
asserted
Noel → oversee → addiction
On Monday, Brand was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison after being found guilty of one count of rape and three sexual assaults.
asserted
Brand → sentence → rape
Sentencing him, Judge Joel Bennathan said the evidence in the case showed that during the peak of his celebrity, his entourage had 'indulged your dreadful behaviour'.
asserted
entourage → sentence → behaviour
Harper channels some of Mum's girl power
Will it be third time lucky for Harper Beckham?
asserted
it → channel → Beckham
I can reveal that the teenager has settled on a new name – the third – for her yet-to-launch skincare range, which will now be called 'Girl Skin'.
asserted
which → reveal → range
Documents filed by Project Seven US Inc, the Beckham business running the show, reveal the name was submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the end of last week.
asserted
name → file → week
Harper had initially gone for Hiku by Harper; and then tried Harlo by Harper; but both ran foul of the USPTO.
asserted
both → go → USPTO
Harlo by Harper was rejected in October because the USPTO felt it might be confused with an existing company, Harlo, which sells nutritional supplements.
uncertain
which → reject → supplements
Harper Beckham has settled on a new name – the third – for her yet-to-launch skincare range, which will now be called 'Girl Skin'
asserted
which → settle → range
Meanwhile, speaking of names, Victoria Beckham's UK trademarking of the names of all four of her children will run out on December 22.
asserted
trademarking → speak → December
I am told that she will not be seeking to extend any of the trademarks, which run for ten years.
asserted
which → tell → years
When she took them out, all four children were minors.
asserted
children → take → them
But now Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are adults, and Brooklyn has famously fallen out with his family and is no longer a part of Brand Beckham.
asserted
Brooklyn → fall → Beckham
I revealed in October that Victoria is pouring $3million into launching her daughter's skincare brand.
asserted
Victoria → reveal → brand
That figure was revealed in the first ever accounts filed by H7B Ltd.
asserted
figure → reveal → accounts
The company, which uses Harper's initials and the numeral '7' (because her middle name is Seven), was set up in October 2024, when the youngest Beckham was just 13 years old.
asserted
Beckham → use → October
The plan is to launch her brand towards the second half of next year; probably after Harper sits her GCSEs in May and June.
uncertain
Harper → launch → May
(She turns 16 in July.)
asserted
She → turn → July
Girl Skin is expected to sell cleanser, toner, moisturiser and lip balm.
asserted
Skin → expect → cleanser
Depp snubs Press (again)
asserted
Depp → snub → Press
…and 42 more, not listed.
The Aporia
