Russell Brand has been transferred to a category C prison, his wife Laura has confirmed, in her first public comments since his jailing.

On Monday, the comedian was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

Over the weekend, Brand was transferred from category B HMP Wandsworth in London to HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, which houses men convicted of sexual offences.

Laura Brand returned to the couple’s podcast on Sunday, saying that she had spoken to her husband in prison and he “is OK and is praying”. Brand has positioned himself as a Christian influencer, and has a large following among believers, including in the US.

HMP Littlehey, a category C training prison, is one of the largest prisons in Europe for men convicted of sexual offences.

It held more than 1,200 prisoners as of January 2025, according to data from the Independent Monitoring Board.

Before Brand’s move to the prison, a source close to the disgraced comedian said he was doing “remarkably well considering the circumstances” at HMP Wandsworth and that he had been moved from isolation to a main wing.

A member of staff at Wandsworth said there had been “much excitement” among the inmates about Brand’s arrival, with some slamming on cell doors and shouting out his name. They added that there had also been some anger displayed about his crimes.

Staff at other prisons told the BBC Brand’s fame, combined with the nature of his crimes, could make him a target for other inmates.

In the couple’s podcast, released on Sunday, Laura Brand can seen sitting on a sofa in what looks like a conservatory. She is holding a Bible with a candle burning in front of her.

The couple had continued their YouTube podcast during Brand’s trial. They often read snippets of the Bible and discussed religion.

On Sunday, Laura told their followers: “We trust his [God’s] plan and everything he is doing just now, even though it’s painful and obviously will take some getting used to.”

During the show, Laura played an episode she said had been recorded before her husband was jailed.

It featured the couple singing to the American folk singer Woody Guthrie before praying together.

Towards the end of the podcast, Laura returned on her own to read a message from her husband.

He called staff at HMP Littlehey “strong”, “kind” and “dedicated”, and he asked people to support his “treasured wife and family”.