Bear Grylls has reflected on helping baptise Russell Brand after a documentary exposed allegations of sexual assault against the comedian.

In May 2024, Brand revealed that he had been baptised in the River Thames, during a ceremony held in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, so he could “leave the past behind”.

The baptism occurred months after a Dispatches and Sunday Times investigation highlighted accusations by four women of rape, sexual assault and abuse at the height of Brand’s fame. Brand denied all allegations.

A photo showed TV adventurer Grylls embracing the comedian, who wrote: “Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit.”

Grylls, who struck up a friendship with Brand when he appeared on his reality show Running Wild, was asked whether his feeling about baptising Brand had changed since then, and he replied: “I think all our faith changes and evolves, and I’d also say I have many doubts as well. I really struggle with so much of it.

“But I don’t know, I think at heart, my faith says we’re connected together, and we need each other, and not to judge people and to love people.”

He told Metro that he tries to live by the mantra “What would Christ do?”, adding: “I really try and keep that as that compass in my life.”

The devout Christian previously described being at Brand’s baptism as a “privilege” after the comedian’s “tough time”.

“Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal,” he told The Daily Mail. “But it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.

“Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much,” he added.

In a previous Instagram video, Brand told his followers he felt “incredibly blessed” after his baptism in the River Thames. “I got baptised and it was an incredible, profound experience,” he said. “I’m so grateful to be surrendered in Christ.”

Comedian turned podcaster Brand, who hosted Big Brother spin-off shows, had his own BBC Radio 2 programme and starred in a string of Hollywood films, will face trial this autumn over allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him, two more of which surfaced in December 2025.

These include three charges of rape, three allegations of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. The allegations – all of which he denies – date from 1999 to 2009.

In April 2026, he admitted to having “exploitative” sex with a 16-year-old girl at the height of his fame when he was 30 – but says his actions were not against the law.

“When I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old,” he said on journalist Megyn Kelly’s YouTube channel.

He went on: “Consensual sex with a lot of people, when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man who has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation. I think it is exploitative.

“I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration, barely any, I suppose, really, to how that sex was affecting other people.”