Britain's media industry still has a problem with sexual abuse, the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, has said, in the wake of Russell Brand's conviction for rape.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Ms Nandy was asked whether exploitation and sexual abuse remained a problem in the media and entertainment industries. "Yes, I do," she said, "and I think hand on heart I can't say to you as the culture secretary that this is not happening today and in fact, if I had to wager, I would say it is."

Her comments came three days after Brand, once one of Britain's best-known comedians and actors, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

The judge in the case has said Brand will receive a lengthy prison sentence, with sentencing due on Monday.

Ms Nandy said women in the industry were often too afraid to report abuse, warning that speaking up "has a very heavy cost". She said it was time for the media industry to take sexual abuse seriously.

Brand's conviction has renewed scrutiny of how the entertainment industry treated well-known performers accused of abusing their power, with some women saying they feared speaking out could damage their careers.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said on Friday that he expected further allegations to emerge as more victims came forward. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that investigations are continuing into two further allegations of rape made against Brand. A Metropolitan Police superintendent said after the verdict that as Brand's profile grew during his acting and comedy career, "so too did his sense of entitlement".

The BBC has reissued a statement about Brand's time at the broadcaster in the 2000s, saying it was of "great concern" that some people felt unable to raise concerns about his behaviour.

Channel 4 cancelled Married at First Sight UK earlier this month after a review prompted by serious allegations of misconduct during the making of the reality show. The broadcaster had already removed all previous series in May, after a BBC report detailed allegations of rape by two women during filming.

Allegations of rape and sexual assault against Brand were first made public in a joint investigation in 2023 by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme. Brand denied the allegations in that investigation, which related to women who were not involved in the criminal trial.

Ms Nandy, the MP for Wigan, has served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport since July 2024.