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Should the BBC sack Brand? Vote *now* in our poll
The Prime Minister described the pair's behaviour on Brand's BBC Radio 2 show as "offensive and inappropriate" in what could be seen as a direct challenge to the BBC to discipline or suspend the pair.
Ofcom has also launched an inquiry, which could lead to a fine and compulsory on-air apology. The regulator has previously fined Kiss FM £175,000 for a series of transgresssions including a prank call broadcast without the victim's consent.
Brown said: "This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour, as is now widely recognised. Ofcom have said they will investigate the matter and it is for the BBC, the BBC Trust and Ofcom to take any appropriate action."
Opposition leader David Cameron also joined in the row by questioning why the recorded show was ever broadcast.
Brand and Ross left a series of messages on 'Fawlty Towers' actor Andrew Sachs' answer phone during a pre-recorded show claiming Brand had slept with his granddaughter, 23-year-old burlesque performer Georgina Baillie.
They also went on to joke that the shock of the revelation might encourage the actor to kill himself.
The calls were broadcast two days later on Brand's Saturday night BBC Radio 2 show on October 18 after senior producers had approved them without Sachs' approval.
The BBC released a statement saying that their behaviour was "unacceptable and offensive" and the two entertainers have also apologised.
The corporation is carrying out an internal inquiry headed by Tim Davie, director of audio and music, which will be deliverd to the BBC Trust's editorial standards committee. Davie yesterday became the first BBC figure to speak about the incident.
The Sun has published an interview with Sachs's granddaughter today in which she says the family is considering a formal complaint to police.
Baillie, a burlesque performer with dance troupe the Satanic Sluts, who also tried out for The Sun's Page 3, admitted that she slept with Brand three times after they were introduced by a mutual friend in 2006.
She called for the pair to be fired and said: "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?"
Ross is on an £18m three year contract, the highest in the history of the BBC, while Brand receives £200,000 a year for his weekly radio show.
Should the BBC sack Brand? Vote *now* in our poll
Comments
I seriously can not believe that complaints have soared so high. Who are these people? Does someone have the BBC on speed dial?
It is bash the Beeb, JR and RB time again, all pile in. Complain about a waste of licenses fee, blah blah blah.
Nice bit of PR for the Satanic sluts though...who won't be booking them for the Christmas party!
Sack Ross!!! he is an overpaid idiot - russell brand at least has his looks!!
18, 000 people complained!? it was 5000 yesterday. The show was broadcast a week and a half ago. You can only get hold of the podcast on iTunes now. I severely doubt any of these people have listened to the entire broadcast. Just jumping on a bandwagon. its a shame Brand & Ross have been are being used as punch bags by a bunch of Beeb bashers. The show was hilarious, I listened to it that night. Sachs is just happy people under the age of 30 know his real name. Who is Georgina Baillie? Noone knew on Monday and now the wannabe presenter \(check her MySpace), actress, model, media flunky has sold her story to The Sun \(ofcourse) and everyone knows who she is. Im sure she is hating all this media attention and money.
Long live Russell!
are half of these complaints from people jumping on the "higher ground" bandwagon?! Ross and Brand just do what they do, overstepped the mark a little but it's the producers who need firing, or hiring if they are working secretly for Georgina.
Doesn't Gordon Brown have more important things to deal with? This is ridiculous.
Perhaps some of our older viewers can remember a little known sitcom from the 1970's called Fawlty Towers, which featured Manuel, a borderline racist, certainly grotesque, caricature of Spanish people. I wonder if Andrew Sachs, the actor who's career was made by this hilarious stab at the stupidity and incompetence of the Mediterraneans is, by any chance related to the beloved old grandad whose feelings have been so bruised by this current outrage.
Totally agree with Susan - I look forward to hearing Gordon's comments on Kerry Katona, Posh's new hairdo and other *really important* issues such as this.....
What the BBC should do is suspend them for a couple of weeks and now that has happened. The BBC have let this get out of hand. Instead of defending them the BBC should at least show they take it seriously and get some heat off themselves by suspending them.
People shouldn't loose jobs over this as there has been too much bloodletting at the BBC but they should be reprimanded.
18,000 Daily Mail-reading professional gaspers. Brown, man, what are you playing at? Just leave it be - Jordan will more than probably fill next week's pages having trained up Harvey to jump fences on a miniature horse.
BBC newswire: 'Gordon Brown is expected to face questions from MPs over the affair in prime minister's questions.'
Holly f#cking macrowley - get your priorities right. Hasn't the govt got enough to worry about rather than two buffoons playing pranks on the radio.
Comments
Gordon Macmillan - 29/10/2008
I seriously can not believe that complaints have soared so high. Who are these people? Does someone have the BBC on speed dial?
Andrew Japp - 29/10/2008
It is bash the Beeb, JR and RB time again, all pile in. Complain about a waste of licenses fee, blah blah blah. Nice bit of PR for the Satanic sluts though...who won't be booking them for the Christmas party!
pixie x - 29/10/2008
Sack Ross!!! he is an overpaid idiot - russell brand at least has his looks!!
Mr Cheese - 29/10/2008
18, 000 people complained!? it was 5000 yesterday. The show was broadcast a week and a half ago. You can only get hold of the podcast on iTunes now. I severely doubt any of these people have listened to the entire broadcast. Just jumping on a bandwagon. its a shame Brand & Ross have been are being used as punch bags by a bunch of Beeb bashers. The show was hilarious, I listened to it that night. Sachs is just happy people under the age of 30 know his real name. Who is Georgina Baillie? Noone knew on Monday and now the wannabe presenter \(check her MySpace), actress, model, media flunky has sold her story to The Sun \(ofcourse) and everyone knows who she is. Im sure she is hating all this media attention and money. Long live Russell!
Ollie Blackmore - 29/10/2008
are half of these complaints from people jumping on the "higher ground" bandwagon?! Ross and Brand just do what they do, overstepped the mark a little but it's the producers who need firing, or hiring if they are working secretly for Georgina.
Susan Billinge - 29/10/2008
Doesn't Gordon Brown have more important things to deal with? This is ridiculous.
Adam Kirby - 29/10/2008
Perhaps some of our older viewers can remember a little known sitcom from the 1970's called Fawlty Towers, which featured Manuel, a borderline racist, certainly grotesque, caricature of Spanish people. I wonder if Andrew Sachs, the actor who's career was made by this hilarious stab at the stupidity and incompetence of the Mediterraneans is, by any chance related to the beloved old grandad whose feelings have been so bruised by this current outrage.
Nicola Clark - 29/10/2008
Totally agree with Susan - I look forward to hearing Gordon's comments on Kerry Katona, Posh's new hairdo and other *really important* issues such as this.....
Cameron Yarde Jnr - 29/10/2008
What the BBC should do is suspend them for a couple of weeks and now that has happened. The BBC have let this get out of hand. Instead of defending them the BBC should at least show they take it seriously and get some heat off themselves by suspending them. People shouldn't loose jobs over this as there has been too much bloodletting at the BBC but they should be reprimanded.
S CARMONA - 29/10/2008
18,000 Daily Mail-reading professional gaspers. Brown, man, what are you playing at? Just leave it be - Jordan will more than probably fill next week's pages having trained up Harvey to jump fences on a miniature horse.
Matt Stewart - 29/10/2008
BBC newswire: 'Gordon Brown is expected to face questions from MPs over the affair in prime minister's questions.' Holly f#cking macrowley - get your priorities right. Hasn't the govt got enough to worry about rather than two buffoons playing pranks on the radio.