Russell Brand’s ex urges him to make amends after rape conviction

Georgina Baillie, the granddaughter of late actor Andrew Sachs and former girlfriend of Russell Brand, has urged the comedian to take responsibility for his actions and make amends with his victims following his conviction for rape and sexual assault.

Baillie, 41, who first met Brand when she was 21 while working with a burlesque dance troupe, said she was deeply disappointed by his conduct during the legal proceedings.

She acknowledged that justice had been served, stressing that although Brand had never assaulted her, the evidence presented by the victims was compelling. She also called on him to acknowledge his wrongdoing and take meaningful steps towards addressing the harm caused.

Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court in London. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday and will remain in custody over the weekend after the judge rejected his bail application over concerns that he could flee.

Reflecting on the case, Baillie said accepting responsibility would be the first step towards making amends. She added that further efforts should focus on helping the victims recover from their experiences.

Baillie also recalled the controversial 2008 Sachsgate incident, when Brand and BBC presenter Jonathan Ross left offensive messages for her grandfather, Andrew Sachs, during a live radio broadcast.

The incident sparked widespread outrage after the pair made inappropriate remarks about Brand’s relationship with Baillie, causing significant distress to her family.

She described their behaviour as bullying and said the controversy damaged her relationship with her grandparents, leaving them estranged for eight years despite her attempts to reconcile.

Baillie revealed that the experience also had a lasting impact on her personal life. Brand later covered her therapy and medical expenses, while she entered rehabilitation to overcome her struggles with substance addiction.

Now six years sober, Baillie hosts a podcast centred on addiction and recovery. Despite the highly publicised nature of her relationship with Brand, she described it as casual and said she has no regrets about their involvement.