BBC suspends Ross and Brand
Updated on 29 October 2008
Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have been suspended by the BBC in the wake of the controversy over their lewd calls to Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs.
Their prank sparked 18 thousand complaints and condemnation from the prime minister.
In the last half hour the BBC has announced that the presenters Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand will now be suspended.
Their shows will also be taken off the air until prank calls made on a BBC Radio 2 programme are investigated.
The pair had left crude messages on the answer phone of the actor Andrew Sachs, claiming that his granddaughter, Georgina Baillie, had slept with Brand.
In a statement, the BBC Director General Mark Thompson said "I would like to add my own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast on BBC Radio 2."
He added "This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learnt and appropriate action taken"
The statement came after growing pressure on the BBC.
They were heard joking and singing a song about the granddaughter after the programme, which was broadcast on Saturday 18 October, had been pre-recorded and cleared by BBC lawyers and producers.
Yesterday Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the call as "clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour".
Meanwhile politicians from all sides have rushed to criticise the BBC, with some demanding resignations and sackings. Conservative leader, David Cameron, also joined in the outrage.
"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers."Mark Thompson, BBC Director General
Mark Thompson's full statement
"I would like to add my own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast on BBC Radio 2.
"BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. However, this is not a marginal case. It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view.
"Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue. The investigation that I instructed Tim Davie to conduct is nearing completion, and I am returning to London to review the findings and, in the coming days, announce what action we will take.
"In the meantime, 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.
"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learnt and appropriate action taken. I have been asked to report to the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee before the end of this week and will discuss with the Trust the findings of the report and the actions I propose."
