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BBC suspends Brand and Ross after phone prank

Wednesday, 29 October 2008

Russell Brand

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Prank call: Brand and Ross

Should the BBC sack Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand?

Yes - sack them both	76%
No way	16%
Just Russell Brand	7%
Just Jonathan Ross	1%

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have been suspended by the BBC and investigation launched into their prank calls made on Radio 2.

All of their shows have been taken off air until the the investigation is concluded. The news was announced in a statement by director general Mark Thompson.

BBC Director General Mark Thompson, said: "This is not a marginal case. It's clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view.

"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers."

The granddaughter of Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has called for Brand and Ross to be sacked.

Georgina Baillie, 23, who dances in a burlesque troop called Satanic Sluts, said she may make a complaint to police about the prank radio show phonecalls to her grandfather.

She branded the high-earning presenters "cruel sickos" for leaving a series of crude messages on Sachs' answerphone during a pre-recorded radio show. They included boasts from Brand about his sexual relationship with Miss Baillie and jokes from the DJs that veteran actor Sachs might kill himself as a result of the revelation.

The BBC has received over 18,000 complaints since the broadcast, which has also prompted an official investigation from media watchdog Ofcom and drawn widespread condemnation from a range of figures including the Prime Minister.

In an interview with The Sun, Miss Baillie said: "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life? My grandfather is really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end.

"I will be speaking to him to ask whether we should complain to the police and we'll be making the decision as a family.

"They (Brand and Ross) should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs."

Aspiring model Ms Baillie also said that the Radio 2 bosses who allowed the DJs' on-air calls to be broadcast should also go.

She added that she felt "totally and utterly exposed and betrayed" by the calls.

However, she did admit that she had slept with Russel Brand.

After hearing news of the suspensions Mr Sachs said he was "not surprised". He confirmed he was not planning to take the matter up with the police.

He said the pair had got it "badly wrong" and made a "poor team", but he was not seeking revenge.

Brand publicly apologised to Mr Sachs as he left his home in Hampstead, north west London, today.

Surrounded by dozens of photographers and reporters, the star said: "I'm sorry that I have upset Mr Sachs."

How radio show prank call row unfolded

Saturday 18 October

Calls made by Brand and Ross to Andrew Sachs and messages left on his answerphone are aired in pre-recorded sections on Brand's BBC Radio 2 evening show between 9pm and 11pm. It includes Ross telling the Fawlty Towers star Brand had slept with the actor's granddaughter Georgina Baillie and Brand joking he might kill himself.

Saturday 25 October

As reporters prepare a story for the Mail on Sunday, Brand sings a light-hearted apology to Sachs on his radio show but says "it was quite funny" and replays some of the calls.

Sunday 26 October

Newspapers report the fallout from the crude phone calls.
Sachs's agent Meg Poole says the actor is "upset" by the incident. She says she has emailed and written to the BBC to formally complain about the calls.

Monday 27 October

The BBC apologises to Sachs for the "unacceptable and offensive" content of the calls. The corporation says it has launched a review.
Pressure group Mediawatch-UK calls for Brand and Ross to be taken off air while the BBC investigates.
The BBC reveals it has received more than 1,500 complaints. Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has also received complaints.
Sachs tells reporters he is angry but that the apology should be directed at his granddaughter.

Tuesday 28 October

Conservative MP for Monmouth David Davies calls for the pair to be sacked.
Former BBC deputy director general Will Wyatt says "someone should take some pain" for what happened.
John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, stops short of calling for the DJs to be sacked but says an investigation should be carried out into editorial "failures".
Ofcom announces an investigation into the phone calls.
The BBC Trust asks for a report from BBC management on its investigations.
The BBC reveals complaints about Brand's show stands at 4,700.
A spokeswoman for Sachs says Ross sent flowers and a letter of apology to the actor.
Tory leader David Cameron adds his voice, calling for the BBC to be "transparent" about how the programme came to be broadcast.
A parliamentary motion condemning the phone calls is tabled by Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay and Tory MP Nigel Evans.
The BBC's director-general Mark Thompson comes under growing pressure from politicians to act.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham welcomes the BBC Trust and Ofcom's inquiries.
At 5.30pm Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemns the pranks and describes Ross and Brand's phone calls as "inappropriate and unacceptable".
The BBC reveals that complaints topped the 10,000 mark by 6pm.
Sachs tells the BBC his granddaughter "feels very guilty" and that Ross personally delivered the letter and flowers to him.
At 10pm the Metropolitan Police confirms it has received complaints about the comments.

Wednesday 29 October

Ms Baillie, 23, calls for Ross and Brand to be sacked. In an interview with The Sun, the aspiring model admits she has slept with Brand but labels the presenters "cruel sickos" for the messages.
The parliamentary motion criticising the calls is signed by 13 MPs, with others indicating they will back it.
Ross was understood to be filming his weekly BBC TV show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross. Guests Sir David Attenborough, Disney star Miley Cyrus and comedian Frank Skinner were expected to attend.
At 11.30am the BBC announces it has suspended Ross and Brand. It also reveals the number of complaints has risen to 18,000. Describing the incident as a "gross lapse of taste", BBC Director-General Mark Thompson says: "I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned."
Brand's spokesman says the star is preparing to fly to the US to make films.
Tonight's recording of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is cancelled, according to sources.

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107 Comments

J Ross should be sacked, no-one wants to listen to his dribble anymore, his time is over, there must be a wealth of talent out there waiting to entertain and impress your listeners.

Posted by m monaco | 03.11.08, 12:37 GMT

Surely there are much more important issues for the worlds media to worry about rather than some insensitive remarks made by a couple of insensitive 'comics' on the BBC. They made an error of judgement for which they are being punished. It is hardly front page news when stacked up against some of the more serious humanitarian issues that are currently affecting the world.

I work in Afghanistan and frankly I was amazed that this was the lead story on several respected World News Channels for several days. The media coverage given to this is wildly disproportionate. Apart from those directly involved...who really cares about this 'story'?

Posted by Nick | 01.11.08, 13:39 GMT

Although I like Jonatan Ross I think that he should be fired over this matter. The stupid prank that he and Brand played has coused a lot of trouble and hurt. Why should he escape with three months suspension? Poor lLesley Douglas has paid a high price for the stupidity if Rss and Brand and this is not fair.

Posted by MARC | 01.11.08, 09:32 GMT

P.S. Finn.Would you like your 78 year old Grandfather to receive a phone call ranting on about how your granddaughter`s sex life?....Didnt think so either!

Posted by ChrisM | 01.11.08, 00:36 GMT

I am glad that these two bores are off the airways and the tele.Ross is a pathetic excuse for a chat show host who just takes the P out of guests to stroke his own ego.He is at best cringe worthy.And Russell Brand?......what exactly is the point of this so called comedian.I have had illnesses that are funnier.

Posted by ChrisM | 01.11.08, 00:33 GMT

This sistuation has been hijacked by the media and the remains of mary whitehouse group. Go away. Andrew Sachs played a thick spanish waiter in faulty towers not exactly presenting a positive image about spainish people. When faulty towers has translated into other languages his character changed nationality. We always laugh with or at the subject. I thought that this was not unfunny, i can understand Andrew Sachs may have been a little insulted but i also remember he played a 'stupid spanish waiter' yes he was loveable but so are ross and brand. People in this country have been blessed with the gift of seeing the funny side of life don't go losing your sence of humor now. The real question is that we have an ageing demagraphic that feels like it has no voice. These two people are being held accountable for the ills of socity. It starts with taste.

Posted by Finn | 31.10.08, 16:29 GMT

The so called victim is making enough money off the coat-tails of this so called scandal. Just one question, do you think they where more shocked when they read their messages or when she came home dressed in Amy Winehouse's hand-me-downs and announced she was an Exotic dancer?!!

Posted by Michael-Dwyer | 31.10.08, 15:44 GMT

To "More to worry about"

OK - you win, my analagy is not a good one. But I still say we, the consumer and licence payer, need to know what the parameters are.

Posted by annoyed | 31.10.08, 14:17 GMT

Annoyed!

Please, you are letting your imagination get carried away.

They played a joke on a relative of a woman Brand had a relationship with. That was wrong baring in mind he is elderly but to even mention jokes about child abuse in the same discussion is way off the mark.

Compare like with like!

Posted by More to worry about | 31.10.08, 12:53 GMT

So agree with More to worry about! Get over with it Is there a economic crisis somewhere in the world!!! At least over the last week we have had something to laugh about on the news headlines. I am not a young one actually over 50 and I enjoy Russell Brands humour so its not just youngers that like it.

Posted by What a Load of !!! | 31.10.08, 12:08 GMT

Get over it people! Who actually cares!!

There were only 2 people who complained after the broadcast of the programme. It has all been blown up by the media! Who then encouraged people who haven't even heard the programme to complain!!

Load of nonsense!

Look at the grand daughter. Victim!! Pull the other one.

Posted by More to worry about | 31.10.08, 10:24 GMT

I think that Jonathon Ross should be sacked, to think this is what the BBC spend my licence money on it is an joke too far. Sack them and ban both him and Russell Brand from the BBC, they have outcast people before for less.

Posted by Margaaret Wright | 31.10.08, 09:26 GMT

Paul... it is more commonly known as the beeb and not beep!

Posted by ali | 31.10.08, 09:09 GMT

What else do you people want? Blood?
How can Brand and Ross do more than apologise? They were always going to come back to high-profile jobs. Other famous folk with one tenth their talent have come back from worse.

The good news is that Ross released his autobiography recently so this will give him plenty of time for promotion of it during the run up to the oh-so important christmas shopping time.
Brand also has a new book and a paperback out, so plenty more sales there too.

Posted by JokerN | 31.10.08, 08:46 GMT

What Ross and Brand did was not funny, it was simply disgusting. Ross should be fired. Brand has had the decency to resign. We all like a good laugh, but not if it involves hurting other people.

No comp;aints please about spelling or grammar mistakes, but I'll have to get the second eye operation done.

Posted by MARC | 31.10.08, 01:17 GMT

So Auntie beep suspended JR for 12weeks without pay, a real slap on the wrist for their best earner, whoopee. Lets see; 6 million /52 x 12 = 6000000 / 52 x 12 = £1384615.30
I don't think he will be worrying about losing SO much money. As others have commented on in the past if this was an ordinary worker employed in any other industry or vocation they would have been shown the front door without any pay and their p45.

The Beep is worried about loosing their biggest paid employee, and not about the integrity they should be upholding for us licence fee payers who demand the BBC and their staff are accontable to US. Hopefuly the BBC Trust will in their full report demand JR's sacking WITHOUT financial compensation for early ending of contract.

Posted by paul | 30.10.08, 22:30 GMT

DisgustedbyDigustedforNotReading - Do you not know there are 52 weeks in the year, not 12? Our licence fees will still pay this moron 40/52 x 6 million = more than 4.8 million quid.

Way too much for someone who has behaved so appallingly.

Posted by Appalled_by_DisgustedbyDigustedforNotReading_for_ supporting_such_behaviour | 30.10.08, 20:48 GMT

Yes disgusted I did read sorry typo but he should be sacked period its disgusting and I belive that he should be sacked

Posted by disgusted | 30.10.08, 20:37 GMT

If I used my company's telephone to leave an obscene bullying message on an elderly mans answerphone I would be instantly dismissed for gross misconduct and probably prosecuted; and rightly so. Pleading that it was 'funny' would not exonerate me. Ross is a role model (heaven help us) so the same must apply to him. His exalted status cannot overrule his incredible lack of judgement. Since he doesn't have the morale fibre to resign like Brand the BBC must sack him, not some hapless whipping boy. Perhaps then some morality will slowly return to public broacasting.

Posted by Tom | 30.10.08, 20:35 GMT