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The BBC has apologised to Sachs, who played waiter Manuel in classic comedy 'Fawlty Towers', for the "unacceptable and offensive" content of the calls, which have generated more than 546 complaints.
A BBC Radio 2 spokeswoman said: "We have received a letter of complaint from Mr Sachs' agent and would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Sachs for the offence caused.
"We recognise that some of the content broadcast was unacceptable and offensive. We are reviewing how this came about and are responding to Mr Sachs personally. We apologise to listeners for any offence caused."
Sachs, who starred alongside John Cleese in the BBC classic comedy 'Fawlty Towers', was expected to be a guest on Brand's Saturday night BBC Radio 2 programme on October 18, but had to drop out due to "unforeseen circumstances".
When Brand found out that Sachs had pulled out he and Jonathan Ross, who was appearing as a guest on the show, left a series of explicit messages on the actor's answer phone about his 23-year old granddaughter Georgina Baillie who auditioned to be a Sun Page Three girl in 2005. Baillie, who lists "pole dancing and luvvvv" as her sporting interests on her Bebo page, has denied the claims.
Brand told his listeners: "In a minute we are going to be talking to Andrew Sachs -- the elephant in the room is, what Andrew doesn't know is, I've slept with his granddaughter."
In one message Ross shouted out: "He fucked your granddaughter." In another Brand sang: "I said some things I didn't of oughta, like I had sex with your granddaughter".
Brand delivered a light hearted apology on his radio show on Saturday night stating: "I'd like to take this opportunity to issue a personal Russell Brand apology to Andrew Sachs, the great comic actor who played Manuel, for a message that Jonathan and I left on his answerphone, but it was quite funny."
Sachs' agent Meg Poole said that the actor was "very upset" by the calls and that she had written a letter to Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas asking for an apology.
Earlier this year Brand apologised for making a hoax call to the police, during a stage show in Northampton, claiming he had spotted a man who was responsible for a series of assaults.
In September, Brand hosted the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles last month and has been asked to return next year after he sent ratings up by 20%. In his controversial performance Brand labelled US President George W Bush a "retarded cowboy".
Brand has been a regular presenter on Radio Two for almost two years.
Comments
Pretty mealy-mouthed apology. Brand is bloody awful; so's that overpaid tosser Jonathan Ross
Tell us how you really feel...
Andrew Sachs will be remembered for his acting skills and personality for longer that the 2 apologies for 'entertainers' - both overpaid and full of their own importance I'm afraid.
Messrs. JW & RB are laughing all the way to the bank at the licence payers expense.
Brand is such a fool. And seriously not funny.
Seriously not funny. The emperor's new clothes, i swear that's what it is.
what sort of editorial rigour does this show at the BBC? That's what I find as disturbing
What's disappointing is that he is allowed to get away with and carry on as if nothing had happened.
The BBC should yellow and red card people for behaviour like this and ban him for a number of shows, but the BBC has no balls.
Sack both of them. Useless, crude wankers.
What if and i say if the unforseen circumstances were actually that his grand daughter was ill.
Fu**ing idiots - A case of engage brain you fools. I hope Brand gets it but lets face it Ross will get away with murder at the BBC.
g - 27/10/2008
i think a few of you should be over at the daily mail boards rather than BR ;)
seriously, it's a bit crude and disrespectful but you pay for Brand you get Brand... and it's hardly the end of the world.
Gordon, if you don't like him so much, then why did you name your website after him? Answer me that.
g - 27/10/2008
i just listened to the apology. i dare you not to chuckle just a bit http://icanhaz.com/brand
@Art Good point, but BR has been around since the end of 2001 and no one had heard or Brand back then.
Why is everyone getting so wound up about this? A little harmless prank never did anyone any harm and it's as simple as that.
A DIAZ - 27/10/2008
You don't have a family do you Ian?
yomi,lagos
Brand and his retarded friend,are not but 'urchins' who probably got drunk with fame.i strongly feel BBC should penalize them for their lewd,uncultured and ill-mannered talks.SHIT
I'm no fan of either, but it's worth pointing out that there were only two complaints before the Daily Mail splashed the story. Fact is, no-one gave a shit until the moral masses were roused.
The problem arises because 1) this has happened on the beeb, our "beacon of truth" and 2) a lot of people have beef with RB and JR - this is a great chance for them to jump on a bandwagon. People who listen to the RB show expect it to be outrageous and I bet the vast majority of people who complained are not listeners. Sascha Baron Cohen has been making jibes at innocent bystanders for years \(the entire nation of Kazakhstan anyone?) and we don't seem to mind too much.....
The moral masses, Ormiston Groove, are the same moral masses who, are not only allowed their opinions, are also the moral masses who don't have any option but to pay these 2 low life 'performers' obscene wages.
Does it matter that the Daily Mail splashed the story - it is a NEWS item afterall - remember there are some of the moral masses who wouldn't waste their time watching or listening to a man who can't speak properly and a weirdo who is so full of his own importance he thinks he can offend who he likes.
No-one's forcing you to listen to, or watch it, Anne. I think we're past the stage where the National Viewers and Listeners Association dictated what was and wasn't acceptable entertainment. I was merely pointing out that the kind of off-the-peg outrage the Mail likes to whip up ignores the fact that all but two of the show's listeners saw fit not to complain.
Woss is weally weally iwwitating and paid way too much for a witless fook - and bland is a simpering goth pr*ck with an ego the size of the pacific, yet not enough genuine talent to fill a thimble - thought this before their 'humourless pwank' and continue to think it afterwards.
For info - never bought a copy of the Mail - wouldn't even let my cat slash on it!
A DIAZ - 28/10/2008
Don't you dare tarnish Goths by comparing them with that talentless wannabe dandy
apologies - I had no idea there were war lines drawn in mascara.
Comments
jezwaspsrule - 27/10/2008
Pretty mealy-mouthed apology. Brand is bloody awful; so's that overpaid tosser Jonathan Ross
Alison Donnelly - 27/10/2008
Tell us how you really feel...
Anne Warrington - 27/10/2008
Andrew Sachs will be remembered for his acting skills and personality for longer that the 2 apologies for 'entertainers' - both overpaid and full of their own importance I'm afraid. Messrs. JW & RB are laughing all the way to the bank at the licence payers expense.
Jacquie Bowser - 27/10/2008
Brand is such a fool. And seriously not funny.
Gordon Macmillan - 27/10/2008
Seriously not funny. The emperor's new clothes, i swear that's what it is.
jezwaspsrule - 27/10/2008
what sort of editorial rigour does this show at the BBC? That's what I find as disturbing
Tom Atkins - 27/10/2008
What's disappointing is that he is allowed to get away with and carry on as if nothing had happened.
The BBC should yellow and red card people for behaviour like this and ban him for a number of shows, but the BBC has no balls.
Joe Bloggs - 27/10/2008
Sack both of them. Useless, crude wankers.
AwallafaShagba - 27/10/2008
What if and i say if the unforseen circumstances were actually that his grand daughter was ill. Fu**ing idiots - A case of engage brain you fools. I hope Brand gets it but lets face it Ross will get away with murder at the BBC.
g - 27/10/2008
i think a few of you should be over at the daily mail boards rather than BR ;) seriously, it's a bit crude and disrespectful but you pay for Brand you get Brand... and it's hardly the end of the world.
Dominic Gudgeon - 27/10/2008
couple of prize twats
Art Garfunkel - 27/10/2008
Gordon, if you don't like him so much, then why did you name your website after him? Answer me that.
g - 27/10/2008
i just listened to the apology. i dare you not to chuckle just a bit http://icanhaz.com/brand
Gordon Macmillan - 27/10/2008
@Art Good point, but BR has been around since the end of 2001 and no one had heard or Brand back then.
Ian Burgess - 27/10/2008
Why is everyone getting so wound up about this? A little harmless prank never did anyone any harm and it's as simple as that.
A DIAZ - 27/10/2008
You don't have a family do you Ian?
jezwaspsrule - 27/10/2008
or social skills?
Abayomi Sopein - 28/10/2008
yomi,lagos Brand and his retarded friend,are not but 'urchins' who probably got drunk with fame.i strongly feel BBC should penalize them for their lewd,uncultured and ill-mannered talks.SHIT
ormiston groove - 28/10/2008
I'm no fan of either, but it's worth pointing out that there were only two complaints before the Daily Mail splashed the story. Fact is, no-one gave a shit until the moral masses were roused.
Ian Burgess - 28/10/2008
The problem arises because 1) this has happened on the beeb, our "beacon of truth" and 2) a lot of people have beef with RB and JR - this is a great chance for them to jump on a bandwagon. People who listen to the RB show expect it to be outrageous and I bet the vast majority of people who complained are not listeners. Sascha Baron Cohen has been making jibes at innocent bystanders for years \(the entire nation of Kazakhstan anyone?) and we don't seem to mind too much.....
Anne Warrington - 28/10/2008
The moral masses, Ormiston Groove, are the same moral masses who, are not only allowed their opinions, are also the moral masses who don't have any option but to pay these 2 low life 'performers' obscene wages. Does it matter that the Daily Mail splashed the story - it is a NEWS item afterall - remember there are some of the moral masses who wouldn't waste their time watching or listening to a man who can't speak properly and a weirdo who is so full of his own importance he thinks he can offend who he likes.
ormiston groove - 28/10/2008
No-one's forcing you to listen to, or watch it, Anne. I think we're past the stage where the National Viewers and Listeners Association dictated what was and wasn't acceptable entertainment. I was merely pointing out that the kind of off-the-peg outrage the Mail likes to whip up ignores the fact that all but two of the show's listeners saw fit not to complain.
gotnoteef - 28/10/2008
Woss is weally weally iwwitating and paid way too much for a witless fook - and bland is a simpering goth pr*ck with an ego the size of the pacific, yet not enough genuine talent to fill a thimble - thought this before their 'humourless pwank' and continue to think it afterwards. For info - never bought a copy of the Mail - wouldn't even let my cat slash on it!
A DIAZ - 28/10/2008
Don't you dare tarnish Goths by comparing them with that talentless wannabe dandy
gotnoteef - 29/10/2008
apologies - I had no idea there were war lines drawn in mascara.