Brand and Ross: the final insult?

The BBC is facing yet another storm of controversy after highly paid presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross ganged up to prank call Andrew Sachs, the Fawlty Towers legend.

The pair suggested in lewd terms that Brand had enjoyed a sexual relationship with the 23-year-old granddaughter of Sachs, who played Manuel in the classic sitcom.

A recording of the abusive telephone message was broadcast on BBC Radio 2, prompting claims that the BBC has lost control of its editorial integrity.

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Comments

[Stuart]

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[john eaton]

BBC wake up and sack these digusting, sick perverts. Who? Ross and Brand

[doris rudolf]

The whole (unbelievable) affair makes me really wonder - about the BBC

[Eddie Main]

Have just heard of the suspension of Ross and Brand. I think the country wants it permenant. Heads should roll at the BBC, too.

[samantha Wright]

I think it is a complete waste of time. Two comedians having a bit of a prank gone wrong does not exactly make for good viewing when we are in the middle of a credit crisis. Gordon Brown stop wasting my tax paying money and get on with your job instead of hiding behind two comedians. People want to know what is happening with their jobs and homes.

[Peter]

Do we really need the BBC the indepedent stations have better news, are free ,and in the main show no more adverts than the bbc endlessly avertising coming shows.
Scrap it and with it the licence fee

[Graham Davidson]

This is the most powerful case yet for ditching the licence fee. Then these turkeys would have to rely on the money of those who actually wanted to pay to see or hear them.

[david]

it seems that this granddaughter is a slag and doesn't like it that brand has spilled the beans. We all know what the russell brand radio show is about, and if you are offended easily don;t listen to it then you will have nothing to complain about. hope the BBC has some common sense and gives the two fingers to the old fussy farts who have nothing else better to do than moan and complain about anything

[BillN]

The BBC have either lost control of certain of their staff or the Ross/Brand incident is part of their programmimg philosophy.
Either way it is worrying

[Jon Barltrop]

Both presenters should have immediately issued unreserved public apologies. As they didn't, they should now be sacked. Were it to have happened to a member of my family, they would also each receive a personal visit, and hopefully will still.

[Steve]

This is a prime example of what Britain is like nowadays. All sorts of people are jumping onto a bandwagon for all sorts of reasons (none of which are anything to do with sympathy for a shocked 23 year old who is a member of a group called Satanic Sluts Extreme).

The Prime Minister feels he must stick his oar in everywhere, unknown backbenchers want to see their names in the local paper, the Murdoch Press have an interest in kicking the BBC, plus anyone who has a grievance against Ross or Brand ...

Of course the two presenters are guilty of very bad taste. That is always a risk when you want to be on the edge. Fine them suspend them, give them a written warning or whatever the BBC does when presenters cross the line.

It really is not very important!

[john staker]

jonathan ross has lost the plot.
he seems only interested in promoting himself. his humour is based around making sexual inuendos to famale guests plus talking about himself, particularly his toilet habits and his sex life. he wastes opportunities to seriously interview people ( eg Daniel Craig)instead choosing to embarrass them or turn questions around to himself in order to tell another feeble 'funny' tale involving himself.. This only shows his lack of ability as as a talk show host.not in the league of parky, frost, wogan, aspinal etc. Jonny, grow up or go away.

[mr m rowe]

they,ve had thier day- its gone to far- about time the bbc was bought to heel---sack them

[paul randon]

Just heard DG has suspended both - absolutely spot on. Must become a permanent dismissal.

[Audrey Reimann]

Ross and Brand should go. Their replulsive behaviour taints everybody in broadcasting and especially those in authority who make faint apologies with words like ' a prank' and 'inappropriate.'

I have three granddaughters, just embarking on university life. This foulmouthed duo has ruined the reputation of a respected family.If this happened to any of my young girls, I would not hesitate to sue.
I hope Andrew Sachs takes action to restore the good name of his family and rehabilitate the oublic perception of the BBC.
The BBC must clean up and be seen to clean up.

[Dave Bull]

An editor should be reprimanded as should the Ross and Brand but it's one incident that went too far and much has been done already to apologise. Let's not forget there has been so much entertainment from these two. If there was a bigger news story would this have snowballed so far - I'm wondering if we're just hungry for some news other than the credit crunch?

[john houseman]

Per Ross and Brand the facts are established and they have been given suspension. What about the staff who permitted their show to go out at all. When will they (including Lindsey Douglas?) be suspended. All deserve to be dismissed without compensation.

[andrew sheffield]

The people who find this hilarious and exhort the rest of us to get a life really are missing the point. What may be humorous and acceptable in private with like minded people is not acceptable in public. By broadcasting in this way the behaviour is legitimised and society is poorer for it. Sacking them would send a message to the people who find this a good laugh that there still is some moral resposibility out there. It won't happen.

[Jan]

Why does The Times insist on printing the interview ? This only exacerbates the humiliation of Mr Sachs and his family. It's not even the fact that this has happened, what really sticks in the crawl is the fact that these two reprobates are paid such ridiculous amounts of money in the first place to cause such offence!

[Brian Hubbard]

Isn't she a member of music group called the Satanic Sluts? If she's happy with that label, I can't see why she has a problem with Russel Brand. What he said was a lot less offensive. This witch hunt is ridiculous. I wonder how many of your pole voters actual listen to Russel. He's extremely talented, and has never offended this 42yo professional. Keep it up Russel.

[g todd]

yes they lost the plot but until the media kept hyping the incident i was unaware of this. the whole thing has been blown up and i feel andrew sachs wishes the media had let the thing die down = all the media has done is bring it to the publics notice.
i wonder how many of the people who have complained actually heard it when it went out or have they based their complaints on all the prolonged publicity

[Tara]

It would be unacceptable to treat Jonathan Ross's daughters with such contempt, or anyone else's daughter...

It doesn't matter who Georgina Baillie is or how she handles herself publicly - it is unacceptable to use her this way unless she consents to the "joke".

I would rather my license fee be used to pay truly creative people rather than these lazy egos who use scapegoat humour and bully tactics.

[richie]

Years ago, I bought a rooftop radio aerial to boost my BBC Radio 2 signal. Soon after, Steve Wright came to Radio 2; off the air went Desmond Carrington, David Jacobs and the type of MOR music they represented and it was only a matter of time when the low point would be reached. That it has come is no surprise to me. Not having to listen to Brand anymore is the one reversal this trend has suffered in 10 years. Now that it has started, get rid of Stuart Maconie and his nightly sidekick, Suzie Quatro, Mark Lamarr and, of course, the smart-alek himself, Johnathan Woss, as well as the type of music and programming they represent -- and re-name Radio 2 'The Light Programme'!

[Gwen Bowen]

Ross should be sacked. It's obscene the money he takes for his poultry snide comments. He is not an entertainer, he is smutty rude and I refuse to listen or to watch him. This is the last straw and I am appalled at the BBc for dithering on this matter.

[reader]

I have listen to the show on you tube. It was silly but not worth all the fuss it is getting. There are much more interesting stories than this. BBC need to think clearly, only 2 complaints on the day. All the rest have just joined in. Were all grown ups not kids so act like it. Ross stated he was sorry, ok Brand needs to do the same. Then drop the matter and move on.

[Jill Armitage]

Unbelievable. 27,000 people who didn't see the show and are not the target audience are allowed to rid us of a fantastic cutting edge comedian (Brand obviously) whilst millions of his fans are not given the opportunity to show their support and be counted. Ross, is the one who let the cat out of the bag, and yet is being allowed to save his neck. Whilst Brand should not have told Ross about his conquest(?), it was a conversation off air,and Ross put it on air. Editors should then have been the safety net. Georgina, should think twice before sleeping with a self confessed tart. (Although her career choice shows questionable judgement.) I hope time shows this will be great for Brand's career and shows Ross to be the coward he is.

[Michael Ambrose]

So we can't tolerate prank calls but it's ok for one of our 'great British TV moments' to be the portrayal of spaniards as halfwits? What are the BBC playing at? The pair should be reprimanded but this is taking it too far.

[Thomas Tidswell]

Brand and Ross are not two schoolboys who set out on a "prank". They are two sordid and unpleasant characters who knew what they were doing and should never be allowed near another microphone,ever.

[s Richards]

Russell Brand should be the new Dr Who. Lets have a Christmas speical with him in it.The country needs a good pick me up. Fire the goverment if you want a witch hunt they have done more damage then anyone.

[Anne]

How can anyone call Brand amusing? Disappointed in Ross, used to listen to his saturday show but got bored with it. He used to be a good presenter but has got too big for his boots. Glad Brand has gone and hope Ross learns frpm this.