Katherine Ryan spoke about her experience working with Russell Brand on the British version of Roast Battle for Paramount’s Comedy Central.
During his Sky stand-up special, Katherine Ryan: first daughterpremiering on Saturday, the Canadian comedian confirmed she made jokes about Brand’s alleged treatment of women – but claimed Paramount ultimately stopped her from targeting her. Roast Battle co-star.
Ryan didn’t name Brand during his special, but dropped several not-so-subtle clues about his identity. It is also well known that she confronted Brand during Roast Battlewith Deadline reporting the news in 2023 after The times, Sunday, and Channel 4 released a joint investigation into his alleged misconduct.
Brand has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In May, he pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault. In a post on social media, the Forgetting Sarah Marshall The star said he was “grateful” for the opportunity to defend himself at a trial in 2026. Earlier this month, Brand was charged with two other crimes: one for rape and the other for sexual assault. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 20 to face the charges.
During her stand-up special on Sky, Ryan said: “I was invited to a panel show, and I was so excited to do it, but then I found out that if I continued, I would be sitting next to a man who I strongly believe in, but who I can’t prove is an a***. And that’s the lawyer’s choice of words, not mine.”
She continued, “At first I turned down the job, but then I thought, well, he’ll be there in his unnecessarily tight jeans, right? He’ll be there, finger-kicking Tucker Carlson or sucking off a Tibetan monk for views, whatever he’s doing now…I thought I was going to be on the show, and I made a moral decision.”
His decision was to confront Brand and make jokes about his supposed reputation, “but in a funny way.” She remembers two gags she did about Brand, neither of which were finalized when Roast Battle screened in the UK in 2018.
Ryan said that Brand was “okay with it for a while, until finally he had a breakdown and threatened to leave the show.” She continued, “The network got mad. They didn’t want him to leave and they signed him to a new contract, which he waltzed into my dressing room and threw in my face the next day. He said, ‘Look, you’re not allowed to be mean to me anymore, because I don’t agree to it.'”
Ryan added that she had to “be nice” following Comedy Central’s involvement in the show, produced by Fulwell Entertainment. Paramount declined to comment. Ryan and Brand have been contacted for comment.
Mark left Roast Battle after season 1 and was replaced by Jonathan Ross. Based on the American show Jeff Ross presents Roast BattleComedy Central’s format relies on comedians making jokes at each other’s expense, with judges — including Brand and Ryan — considered fair game.
Ryan has previously spoken about his experience on Roast Battle in an appearance in a BBC series Interviews with Louis Théroux... in 2022. Again, she didn’t name Brand or the series, but went viral for her allegations – something she reflected on in her Eldest daughter special.
“I was so excited to be interviewed by him, and maybe I shouldn’t have done that interview, because I have a disorder where if you ask me a question, I’ll tell you the answer,” she joked. “What’s the worst that could happen if I told Louis Theroux?” Times exposed, a Channel 4 documentary?
Ryan continued: “It’s embarrassing now because there’s someone in the UK who’s been officially charged with a crime, and when that happens you’re not allowed to punish them anymore. Boo.”
