Show Notes
On 27 July 2012, Gary Connery pulled up his tights, adjusted his wig, and put on a dress fit for a queen. The London Olympics opening ceremony was about to get underway and the professional stuntman was all set for the biggest job of his career. With the Queen scheduled to open the Games it was decided she would make a very special, very British, entrance. The idea was that James Bond would chaperone Her Majesty to the ceremony in a helicopter, before they both parachuted into the celebrations. But selling the illusion to a billion TV viewers around the world depended on the movie making skills of director/producer Danny Boyle and the bravery of a little-known stuntman ready to wow the world.
In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21 years. The Queen's Stuntman is episode 20 of the 21-part series StoryCast' 21.
Credits -
The Queen's Stuntman was recorded by Tom Gillespie. Production, writing and sound design by Rob Mulhern Special thanks to our contributors, Gary Connery and Alastair Bruce Archive, Simon Windsor TV treatment, Victoria Hudson-Grant Digital, Tom Gillespie Head of Radio, Sky News, Dave Terris Design and graphics, Brian Gillingham Social media, Sam Gould Press and Marketing, Alexandra Horton Email: [email protected] For more on this story log on to www.skynews/storycast21 #StoryCast21
More from Russell Brand: On Trial
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the prosecution case against Russell Brand, as the family and friends of a woman who accuses him of rape in 2009 give evidence. The woman claims she was anally raped by the comedian at his home. Her friends, family and colleagues have given their accounts of what she’d told them - including that she’d been "humiliated, scared, violated and in pain" after the alleged rape. The defence cross-examined witnesses including the ex-boyfriend of the accuser, who they claimed had given conflicting statements to the police and the court. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the case against Russell Brand as a third woman who has accused him of rape continues giving evidence and is cross-examined. The woman alleges she had consensual vaginal sex with Russell Brand at his home, before he anally raped her. She said, ‘I felt completely degraded and like I'd been treated like an animal, like a piece of meat’. During cross-examination Ian Winter KC, for the defence, brought up conflicting accounts in her story as she shared it over the years. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the prosecution case against Russell Brand as a third woman accuses him of rape and two more women allege he sexually assaulted them. One woman claims she was anally raped by the comedian at his home. She said that when she asked him to stop, he continued and she said she was in pain and couldn't speak or breathe. The court also heard from two more women who allege that Brand sexually assaulted them, both in their workplaces. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more from the prosecution case against Russell Brand as a second woman accuses him of rape. She alleged that within a minute of meeting her in 2004, Russell Brand grabbed her breasts, then dragged her into a Soho bar toilet and orally raped her, afterwards saying “I guess we should swap numbers now”. Brand’s defence barrister questioned why she did not report the allegation until 2023. The woman said she was afraid she would not be believed. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast [email protected]
Today, a second alleged victim took the stand in Russell Brand’s trial. She told the court Brand grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a toilet, but she pulled away saying “are you mad?”. He allegedly turned from being “jovial” to a “wild eyed maniac”. Sky News’ Katie Spencer and Martin Brunt were in court for heated exchanges as Brand’s defence barrister challenged the woman. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected]