Brand, 50, the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, was once one of Britain’s most high-profile comedians and broadcasters.

He had repositioned himself in recent years as an internet social commentator.

According to the Met Police, it is alleged that one woman was raped in 1999 in Bournemouth, southern England; one woman was indecently assaulted in London’s Westminster area in 2001; a woman was orally raped and sexually assaulted in 2004 also in the Westminster area of London; and a woman was sexually assaulted between 2004-2005 in London’s Westminster area.

“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police,” the police statement said.

The Met Police added that Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London early next month.

It did not specify Brand’s current whereabouts but described him as living in southern England. A Met spokesperson told CNN a written charge and requisition has been issued.

In 2023 the Sunday Times newspaper and Channel 4 TV’s documentary show Dispatches reported that four women had accused Brand of sexual assaults, including a rape, between 2006 and 2013.

Brand has previously stated that he had never had non-consensual sex.

The comedian, author and Get Him To The Greek actor has previously denied allegations against him, saying his relationships were “always consensual.”

“When I was young and single before I had my wife and family… I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord,” he said in a video message.

“I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity, and I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes,” he added, thanking people for sending messages of support.

The comedian told his 11.3 million followers on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that he looks forward to having “the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that”.

Known for his unbridled and risqué stand-up routines, Brand hosted shows on radio and television, wrote memoirs charting his battles with drugs and alcohol, appeared in several Hollywood movies and was briefly married to Perry between 2010 and 2012.

In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media but has built up a large following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories.

Jaswant Narwal, of Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, said prosecutors “carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.

“We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault,” Narwal said, according to a CPS press release issued on Friday.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.”

In January the BBC apologised to staff members who felt unable to complain about Brand’s conduct because of his celebrity status.

Brand had two weekly radio shows on the BBC from 2006 to 2008 and worked periodically on a number of short-term projects.

The BBC acknowledged that it was “clear that presenters have been able to abuse their positions” in the past.