The BBC has announced that it is “urgently investigating matters” related to allegations of sexual abuse against British actor Russell Brand, who denies the allegations and has worked for the broadcaster for four years, Reuters reports.

Brand, 48, the ex-husband of American singer Katy Perry, worked for BBC radio from 2006 to 2008.

He denied unspecified “very serious criminal charges” on Saturday, hours before allegations of sexual abuse, including rape, were published online by the Sunday Times and later reported on Channel 4.

The Times and the Dispatches documentary series reported that the alleged incidents took place between 2006 and 2013, and said one woman had come forward with allegations of rape and another said Brand assaulted her when she was 16 and he was still studying at school.

Two of the women reported that the incident happened in Los Angeles, the publication writes.

A BBC spokesman said: “The documentaries and related reports contained serious allegations spanning several years. Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programs from 2006 to 2008 and we are looking into the issues raised as a matter of urgency.”

Women’s organization Trevi, which helps abused women, said it had ended its relationship with Brand, while Tavistock Wood, a talent agency, said it had “terminated all professional ties with Brand”.

“Russell Brand vehemently and vehemently denied the allegations made in 2020, but we now believe he has misled us terribly,” the statement said.

London’s Metropolitan Police said it had not received any reports of allegations.

“If anyone believes they have been sexually assaulted, regardless of how long ago it happened, we encourage them to contact the police,” the police said in a statement.

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