Judge warns jurors as Russell Brand prepares for rape trial in London

Key points

• Actor and comedian Russell Brand has appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London for the start of his trial on historical sex offences. Brand, 51, faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault relating to six women between 1999 and 2009.
• He has denied all the allegations. Judge Joel Bennathan told potential jurors the trial is expected to last about six weeks and warned them not to research the defendant.
• A pool of 20 potential jurors was selected, to be reduced to 14 on Tuesday.