LONDON - Russell Brand quit his Radio 2 show last night over the prank calls he made to Andrew Sachs, while Jonathan Ross' future with the BBC could be decided in a meeting between senior executives and the BBC Trust today.
BBC director general Mark Thompson suspended the pair yesterday morning after a deluge of complaints about their behaviour, which have now reached 27,000.
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Brand's decision to resign came as Ross issued an apology for his "juvenile and thoughtless remarks" which included shouting on 'Fawlty Towers' actor Andrew Sachs' answer phone that Brand had "fucked" his granddaughter, burlesque dancer Georgina Baillie.
Ross said he had not issued a statement before because he had intended to apologise "to all those offended" on his Friday night chat show on BBC One, which will not air due to Thompson's decision. His Saturday morning radio show has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules.
Sir Michael Lyons, the head of the BBC Trust, has called an emergency meeting today to hear the results of a BBC investigation into how the calls came to be broadcast.
During the meeting Tim Davie, the BBC's director of audio and music, is due to present a preliminary report on the calls to trustees, who represent the interests of licence fee payers.
Thompson will then brief them on the latest developments, followed by a discussion on what action can be taken.
Ofcom is also conducting a separate inquiry.
Brand said in a statement that he took "complete responsibility for his actions".
"As I only do the radio show to make people laugh, I've decided that, given the subsequent coverage, I will stop doing the show.
"I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that, at the core of the rude comments and silly songs, were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big-hearted young woman."
Bookie Paddy Power expects XFM to be Brand's next most likely broadcast destination with odds of 7/4, followed by the comedian's former home MTV at 5/2.
In Brand Republic's poll of 193 people 38.3% thought Brand should be sacked, 33.7% thought it was a harmless joke and 28% thought the BBC should be fined instead.
What did the BBC expect when they put these two men in the same room? Talk about hang the man out to dry. At least he resigned with dignity and grace.
Good to see the media focusing on real cutting edge and important issues as always!!!!
And much love to Ross as well.
I do agree when i watched the BBC News at 10 last night this story was top of the bill!! Now that is ridiculous. I respect Brands decision, but Ross, well he is just a coward. What is done is done and time to move on me thinks! \(I just want Ross to go and his £8m fee put into great TV rather than his pocket!)
Oh dear - what a kafuffle!
I love both Brand and Ross and although I agree they shouldn't have made the phone calls and they did go too far, I now think the media and the BBC has also taken it too far. Georgina admitted sleeping with him and from what I have read she seems more like a porn star than a burlesque dancer... honestly, what did she expect sleeping with one of the most openly promiscuous guys around?!? Is she upset her granddad knows who she's slept with or is she upset that he now probably knows she is one of the 'Satanistic Sl*ts'?
It was a joke that went too far and now our PM has also jumped on the 'moral' band wagon, the BBC have to prove they are taking relevant action.
The producers should be fired and Brand and Ross should be given a slap on the wrist and a "don't let it happen again"! Ross is one of the only good things about the BBC! I don't think they can afford to loose him.
Lighten up people! Everyone messes up sometimes and takes things too far, but luckily for us we don't do it on national radio shows! Give them a break, it's not like anyone would have cared if the media hadn't hyped the whole thing so much. In fact most of us wouldn't have even known about it!!!
There are too many idiots commenting on this. 'Messing up'? And Brand saying he was 'silly'. It's more fundamental that that and is at the core of what the BBC does/is for. Tim Davie has shown that he's clearly not up for the job - he should go too.
What the hell has happened to sense of humour. You could tell it was a joke \(albeit in bad poor taste) but a joke nevertheless. The BBC will be the only loser here. Brand will get another show, Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter will both do interviews and Ross will keep his job. If you don't like these hosts, don't watch/listen to them, it's as simple as that.
Brand and Ross push the limits. That's why their audience follows them. We like thier humour, it is rogueish and risque and obviously works otherwise they wouldn't get the peaktime shows.
Did they go too far? Yes. Are they sorry? Probably. Should they be fired? No way.
They need to make the appropriate appologies, do some compulsory charity work and get back to doing what they do so well and entertaining us.
God only knows we need a good laugh in theese dark days.
the media has blown this all out of proportion. its a prank FFS, 27,000 people complained! thats 27,000 people with too much time on their hands, who probably listened to it well after it was broadcast, due to news media making it more than it is. i'm not a Brand/ Ross fan, but did find this funny. at the end of the day, the BBC are to blame for letting it go out on air. Brand and Ross have been made scape goats whilst the BBC gets it little PR machine going! pathetic
I think that an awful lot of Daily Mail readers need to lighten up and actually hear the show before they complain about it. I heard the show as it went out and heard the comment as it was intended, I also heard the two hosts apologise on a number of occaisions. Over a week later I read the article in the Mail on Sunday and it painted a completely different picture.
This may just turn out to be the best move Brand could have made, he'll get higher audience figures for his show and will get to move to XFM where he can express himself without fear of the upsetting the board at Auntie.
One thing that struck me is, if all DJs for prerecorded shows occasionally say naughty things, isn't it the editor's job to make sure they don't get broadcast? Not suggesting anyone had it in for brand particularly, but interesting it's only the hosts in the blame game here.
PS. The above comments are right, a measly 4 people complained at the time and thousands are now lining up to complain based only on what they've heard anecdotally. It's the Brasseye special all over again.
Just had a call from the Mail on Sunday - could we help name any ads they had worked on. Didn't help \\(couldn't think of any other the Pizza Hut one with ross years ago), but I imagine the Mail on Sunday will be majoring big disgust and outrage this weekend. Something to look forward to jezwaspsrule. lol
Ha! I look forward to getting the MoS as I agree with everything it says... Incidentally I did find something worth watching on the Beeb - The Streets on Electric Proms BBCi on Friday night - I'll let them have the licence fee for that day, but can I have the rest back please
Do you think that Ross/Brand situation will affect house prices or lead to a rise in immigrants sponging off the honest middle England taxpayer? If there is a link, the Mail will find it.
Is it just me or is it quite likely that the actor who played Manuel can probably put up with quite a lot for the sake of comedy? I mean which is worse, being hit in the head with a frying pan repeatedly, or being told that Russell Brand fucked your satanic slutty granddaughter? Also, the Daily Mail is much more offensive than these phone calls were.
If that Rusell Brand came round my house making lurid claims that he had enjoyed my granddaughter on a swing while exclaiming que? que? meester Fawlty i'd grab him by his ballbags and lift his little Winkle Pickers from ground while making him promise to shut his cakehole for evermore! - the swine!!
I've listened to the entire show, and I like humour that's well on the edge.
Although listening to the show was vaguely amusing, you can hear them getting carried away in the moment. It begins with 'excited' from Brand, building to 'mania' and continuing up to 'hysteria'. Jonathan Ross likes playing close to the edge, but usually knows when to stop. He also gets carried away in the moment. Easy to hear how they both forgot where the line was and stepped way over it.
Although I like humour on the edge, the show actually wasn't really particularly funny, either with or without the Sachs calls.
The Beeb didn't really have much choice. 1. They're bordering on illegal by making obscene phone calls. 2. I agree with AndySt - if I were Andrew Sachs I'd be absolutely seething - Sachs is a non-consenting victim of their behaviour. \(BrassEye was different - it was a brilliant parody of media hysteria, and all the 'celebs' consented to be filmed.) The 'lady' herself doesn't really have a leg to stand on, however.
I think they were right to sack Brand \(no doubt they gave him the option to resign), and Ross has been given a hefty ruler across the knuckles.
The Beeb has to toe the line as a publicly funded broadcaster, and If Ross and Brand don't like it, they are free to choose to work for another broadcaster who will find their material more acceptable.
It's a shame for Ross - I doubt this would have happened if the two hadn't been put together as an unfortunately explosive cocktail - but Brand is in my opinion a complete liability. There's edgy, and then there's unprofessional. He needs to get himself checked in for sex addiction \(again!) - his heroin addiction clearly masked this. But that's a separate issue.
Finally, there has also clearly been an almighty failure of editing/clearing the programme. It clearly couldn't go out on the Beeb's watch.
I found it highly ironic that Chris Evans was saying how the Head of Radio 2 was 'such a great boss'. She's clearly very good at her job, but under these circumstances, would you REALLY want a public endorsement from a broadcaster who's also been sacked for unprofessional behaviour? It's like John McCain not wanting an endorsement from Dubya - poisoned chalice!
Moral: If you know where the line is, you can toe it and get away with it. Just DON'T TAKE THE PISS or the system will have to be seen to can you. Just common sense.
Comments
Matt Saunders - 30/10/2008
38.3% of people need to stop reading the Mail
Jonnie - 30/10/2008
33.7% of people shouldn't be so complacent to such disgusting comments 'live' on national radio!
nicholas beckingham - 30/10/2008
What did the BBC expect when they put these two men in the same room? Talk about hang the man out to dry. At least he resigned with dignity and grace. Good to see the media focusing on real cutting edge and important issues as always!!!! And much love to Ross as well.
Jonnie - 30/10/2008
I do agree when i watched the BBC News at 10 last night this story was top of the bill!! Now that is ridiculous. I respect Brands decision, but Ross, well he is just a coward. What is done is done and time to move on me thinks! \(I just want Ross to go and his £8m fee put into great TV rather than his pocket!)
Kara Wardell - 30/10/2008
Oh dear - what a kafuffle! I love both Brand and Ross and although I agree they shouldn't have made the phone calls and they did go too far, I now think the media and the BBC has also taken it too far. Georgina admitted sleeping with him and from what I have read she seems more like a porn star than a burlesque dancer... honestly, what did she expect sleeping with one of the most openly promiscuous guys around?!? Is she upset her granddad knows who she's slept with or is she upset that he now probably knows she is one of the 'Satanistic Sl*ts'? It was a joke that went too far and now our PM has also jumped on the 'moral' band wagon, the BBC have to prove they are taking relevant action. The producers should be fired and Brand and Ross should be given a slap on the wrist and a "don't let it happen again"! Ross is one of the only good things about the BBC! I don't think they can afford to loose him. Lighten up people! Everyone messes up sometimes and takes things too far, but luckily for us we don't do it on national radio shows! Give them a break, it's not like anyone would have cared if the media hadn't hyped the whole thing so much. In fact most of us wouldn't have even known about it!!!
jezwaspsrule - 30/10/2008
There are too many idiots commenting on this. 'Messing up'? And Brand saying he was 'silly'. It's more fundamental that that and is at the core of what the BBC does/is for. Tim Davie has shown that he's clearly not up for the job - he should go too.
Just My Opinion - 30/10/2008
What the hell has happened to sense of humour. You could tell it was a joke \(albeit in bad poor taste) but a joke nevertheless. The BBC will be the only loser here. Brand will get another show, Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter will both do interviews and Ross will keep his job. If you don't like these hosts, don't watch/listen to them, it's as simple as that.
jezwaspsrule - 30/10/2008
That's a shit argument for a publicly-funded broadcaster and I'm surprised you are stupid enough to come up with it
marcus evans - 30/10/2008
Brand and Ross push the limits. That's why their audience follows them. We like thier humour, it is rogueish and risque and obviously works otherwise they wouldn't get the peaktime shows. Did they go too far? Yes. Are they sorry? Probably. Should they be fired? No way. They need to make the appropriate appologies, do some compulsory charity work and get back to doing what they do so well and entertaining us. God only knows we need a good laugh in theese dark days.
Deano - 30/10/2008
the media has blown this all out of proportion. its a prank FFS, 27,000 people complained! thats 27,000 people with too much time on their hands, who probably listened to it well after it was broadcast, due to news media making it more than it is. i'm not a Brand/ Ross fan, but did find this funny. at the end of the day, the BBC are to blame for letting it go out on air. Brand and Ross have been made scape goats whilst the BBC gets it little PR machine going! pathetic
Jamie Boulger - 30/10/2008
I think that an awful lot of Daily Mail readers need to lighten up and actually hear the show before they complain about it. I heard the show as it went out and heard the comment as it was intended, I also heard the two hosts apologise on a number of occaisions. Over a week later I read the article in the Mail on Sunday and it painted a completely different picture. This may just turn out to be the best move Brand could have made, he'll get higher audience figures for his show and will get to move to XFM where he can express himself without fear of the upsetting the board at Auntie.
Dave Stoker - 30/10/2008
One thing that struck me is, if all DJs for prerecorded shows occasionally say naughty things, isn't it the editor's job to make sure they don't get broadcast? Not suggesting anyone had it in for brand particularly, but interesting it's only the hosts in the blame game here.
Dave Stoker - 30/10/2008
PS. The above comments are right, a measly 4 people complained at the time and thousands are now lining up to complain based only on what they've heard anecdotally. It's the Brasseye special all over again.
Gordon Macmillan - 30/10/2008
Just had a call from the Mail on Sunday - could we help name any ads they had worked on. Didn't help \\(couldn't think of any other the Pizza Hut one with ross years ago), but I imagine the Mail on Sunday will be majoring big disgust and outrage this weekend. Something to look forward to jezwaspsrule. lol
Tom Atkins - 30/10/2008
It is a BBC bashers dream. Nightmare for the rest of us.
jezwaspsrule - 30/10/2008
Ha! I look forward to getting the MoS as I agree with everything it says... Incidentally I did find something worth watching on the Beeb - The Streets on Electric Proms BBCi on Friday night - I'll let them have the licence fee for that day, but can I have the rest back please
FP - 30/10/2008
Do you think that Ross/Brand situation will affect house prices or lead to a rise in immigrants sponging off the honest middle England taxpayer? If there is a link, the Mail will find it.
jezwaspsrule - 30/10/2008
Don't be absurd. Although there is a clear link to illegal pikey encampments
Justin Driskill - 30/10/2008
Is it just me or is it quite likely that the actor who played Manuel can probably put up with quite a lot for the sake of comedy? I mean which is worse, being hit in the head with a frying pan repeatedly, or being told that Russell Brand fucked your satanic slutty granddaughter? Also, the Daily Mail is much more offensive than these phone calls were.
Aroo - 30/10/2008
If that Rusell Brand came round my house making lurid claims that he had enjoyed my granddaughter on a swing while exclaiming que? que? meester Fawlty i'd grab him by his ballbags and lift his little Winkle Pickers from ground while making him promise to shut his cakehole for evermore! - the swine!!
Gordon Macmillan - 31/10/2008
@Justin - The key word "being comedy", which is fine when the joke is funny.
jezwaspsrule - 31/10/2008
I've got a feeling that Ross will be suspended for 12 weeks without pay....
Patrick Barlow - 31/10/2008
I've listened to the entire show, and I like humour that's well on the edge. Although listening to the show was vaguely amusing, you can hear them getting carried away in the moment. It begins with 'excited' from Brand, building to 'mania' and continuing up to 'hysteria'. Jonathan Ross likes playing close to the edge, but usually knows when to stop. He also gets carried away in the moment. Easy to hear how they both forgot where the line was and stepped way over it. Although I like humour on the edge, the show actually wasn't really particularly funny, either with or without the Sachs calls. The Beeb didn't really have much choice. 1. They're bordering on illegal by making obscene phone calls. 2. I agree with AndySt - if I were Andrew Sachs I'd be absolutely seething - Sachs is a non-consenting victim of their behaviour. \(BrassEye was different - it was a brilliant parody of media hysteria, and all the 'celebs' consented to be filmed.) The 'lady' herself doesn't really have a leg to stand on, however. I think they were right to sack Brand \(no doubt they gave him the option to resign), and Ross has been given a hefty ruler across the knuckles. The Beeb has to toe the line as a publicly funded broadcaster, and If Ross and Brand don't like it, they are free to choose to work for another broadcaster who will find their material more acceptable. It's a shame for Ross - I doubt this would have happened if the two hadn't been put together as an unfortunately explosive cocktail - but Brand is in my opinion a complete liability. There's edgy, and then there's unprofessional. He needs to get himself checked in for sex addiction \(again!) - his heroin addiction clearly masked this. But that's a separate issue. Finally, there has also clearly been an almighty failure of editing/clearing the programme. It clearly couldn't go out on the Beeb's watch. I found it highly ironic that Chris Evans was saying how the Head of Radio 2 was 'such a great boss'. She's clearly very good at her job, but under these circumstances, would you REALLY want a public endorsement from a broadcaster who's also been sacked for unprofessional behaviour? It's like John McCain not wanting an endorsement from Dubya - poisoned chalice! Moral: If you know where the line is, you can toe it and get away with it. Just DON'T TAKE THE PISS or the system will have to be seen to can you. Just common sense.