Judge asks lawyers to agree evidence ahead of comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli's rape trial

A judge has asked lawyers to decide what further evidence they can agree on ahead of the trial of a comedian who is accused of rape and other sex offences.

Hardeep Singh Kohli, 57, is facing 20 charges involving five women between 2006 and 2022 at locations including the BBC Studios in Glasgow and the Radisson Hotel in the city.

The charges include five of rape involving the same woman in 2020 and 2021 in the Glasgow area.

The broadcaster also faces several charges of sexual assault, indecent assault and other alleged offences, including breach of the peace, indecent communication and assault.

Kohli, who was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, has pleaded not guilty and special defences of consent have been lodged for some of the charges.

A trial has been fixed for 1 October 2027 at the High Court in Glasgow.

A continued preliminary hearing took place virtually from the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday to discuss procedural matters relating to the case.

Lady Drummond noted that a "very brief" draft joint minute - which sets out agreed evidence - has been prepared and asked defence lawyer Sarah Livingstone and prosecutor Kath Harper to consider how they could expand it.

She set a continued preliminary hearing for 1 July 2027.

Lady Drummond said: "The purpose of that hearing is for parties to apply their minds to the joint minute and to make sure that they have complied with their duty to agree evidence."

The charges Kohli faces include an allegation that he indecently assaulted a woman at the BBC Studios at Pacific Quay on an occasion between 2006 and 2008 when he allegedly seized and squeezed her buttock and placed his arms around her body.

It is also alleged he indecently assaulted the same woman at the Radisson Hotel and repeatedly rubbed her back and touched her hair on an occasion during that time period.

Another charge alleges he sexually assaulted another woman at Yes Bar in Glasgow in December 2016 when he allegedly seized her, placed his arms around her body and kissed her on the mouth.

He is also accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly pursuing the same woman and making sexual remarks towards her at the Yes Bar on the same day.

The alleged offences are reported to have taken place at locations including Edinburgh, Glasgow, a hotel in Dumfries and Galloway, and elsewhere.

Read more from Sky News:
Man charged with assisting Russian intelligence
Man shot by police after woman stabbed

Kohli was born in London before moving to Glasgow as a young boy.

He has appeared on multiple TV shows, including Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Big Brother, The One Show and The Wright Stuff, and has hosted programmes on BBC Radio 4.

(c) Sky News 2026: Judge asks lawyers to agree evidence ahead of comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli's rape trial