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'This is wrong' says Sachs's wife as Ross is nominated for Bafta - plus the full list of all the other nominations

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Published Date: 25 March 2009
By craig brown
JONATHAN Ross found himself embroiled in controversy again yesterday, after his chat show was nominated for a Bafta television award.
Ross, 48, who returned to the BBC only recently following a three-month suspension for his part in the Andrew Sachs radio phone-in scandal, was shortlisted for the top TV entertainment performance award for his Friday night chat show.

Other nomi
nations include June Brown, 82, for best actress – the first time a soap star has received a Bafta nomination in this category in 21 years – for her performance as Dot Cotton in EastEnders'.

The last soap star to be nominated was Jean Alexander for her portrayal of Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street.

However, the Ross nomination proved controversial yesterday and was branded an "astonishing mistake" by the television watchdog Mediawatch UK.

John Beyer, the director of the group, said: "I think it's a mistake for Jonathan Ross to get a nomination, but I'm not at all surprised.

"Bafta has a reputation for rewarding controversial people for the sake of it. They are completely out of step with public opinion.

"The reaction from the Prime Minister downwards after the Andrew Sachs scandal is evidence of that."

The chat-show host sparked controversy last October when he, along with fellow presenter and comedian Russell Brand, left a series of crude voicemail messages on Sachs's answering machine, as part of a prank on Brand's BBC Radio 2 show. The ensuing fallout dominated the headlines for several weeks, ending in Ross being suspended.

Sachs yesterday expressed surprise at the nomination. He said: "One would question the reasons when it comes so quickly after what happened. I wonder how much it has to do with trying to comfort him? I don't have an emotional reaction, it is all in the past and I don't feel any animosity towards him. Good luck to him in a way."

However, Sachs's wife, Melody, was less forgiving, saying "It is wrong and bad-timing to give or even put up this guy for recognition when he has done such a terrible thing. It was unforgivable really – I'm not angry, I just don't believe it."

Defending the nomination, which is calculated on the basis of votes by the 6,000 Bafta members, Andrew Newman, of the academy's TV committee, said: "This is a nomination for his performance in Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, so what he did on somebody else's radio show would not be a right thing to consider.

"He has been nominated five times before and is a very entertaining performer.''

Andrew Jones, a media expert at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, said: "I don't think it's surprising that he's been nominated. There are a lot of people in the television industry that view Ross as one of the most outstanding talents of his generation."

Ross will compete against Ant and Dec, Harry Hill and Stephen Fry in his category. The winners will be announced at London's Royal Festival Hall on 26 April.

NOMINATIONS

Best actor
Stephen Dillane - The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall (Channel 4)
Jason Isaacs - The Curse of Steptoe (BBC Four)
Ken Stott - Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)
Ben Whishaw - Criminal Justice (BBC One)

Best actress
June Brown - EastEnders (BBC One)
Anna Maxwell Martin - Poppy Shakespeare (Channel 4)
Maxine Peake - Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)
Andrea Riseborough - Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley (BBC Four)

Best entertainment performance
Stephen Fry - QI (BBC Two)
Harry Hill - Harry Hill's TV Burp (ITV1)
Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly - I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (ITV1)
Jonathan Ross - Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (BBC One)

Best comedy performance
Rob Brydon - Gavin and Stacey (BBC Three)
Sharon Horgan - Pulling (BBC Three)
David Mitchell - Peep Show (Channel 4)
Claire Skinner - Outnumbered (BBC One)

Best single drama
Einstein and Eddington (BBC Two)
Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)
The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall (Channel 4)
White Girl (BBC Two)

Best drama serial
Criminal Justice (BBC One)
Dead Set (Channel 4)
The Devil's Whore (Channel 4)
House of Saddam (BBC Two)

Best drama series
Doctor Who (BBC One)
Shameless (Channel 4)
Spooks (BBC One)
Wallander (BBC One)

Best continuing drama
The Bill (ITV1)
Casualty (BBC One)
EastEnders (BBC One)
Emmerdale (ITV1)

Best factual series
Amazon with Bruce Parry (BBC Two)
Blood Sweat and T-Shirts (BBC Three)
The Family (Channel 4)
Ross Kemp in Afghanistan (Sky One)

Best entertainment programme
The Friday/Sunday Night Project (Channel 4)
Harry Hill's TV Burp (ITV1)
QI (BBC One)
The X Factor (ITV1)

Best situation comedy
The Inbetweeners (Channel 4)
The IT Crowd (Channel 4)
Outnumbered (BBC One)
Peep Show (Channel 4)

Best comedy programme
Harry and Paul (BBC One)
The Peter Serafinowicz Show (BBC Two)
Star Stories (Channel 4)
That Mitchell and Webb Look (BBC Two)

Best single documentary
A Boy Called Alex (Channel 4)
Chosen (Channel 4)
The Fallen (BBC Two)
Thriller in Manila (More 4)

Best feature
The Apprentice (BBC One)
Celebrity MasterChef (BBC One)
The Choir: Boys Don't Sing (BBC Two)
Top Gear (BBC Two)

Best international show
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (More 4)
Dexter (ITV1)
Mad Men (BBC Four)
The Wire (FX)

Best specialist factual
Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery (BBC Four)
Life in Cold Blood (BBC One)
Lost Land of the Jaguar (BBC One)
Stephen Fry and the Gutenberg Press: The Machine That Made Us (BBC Four)

Best current affairs
Saving Africa's Witch Children - Dispatches (Channel 4)
Mum Loves Drugs, Not Me - Dispatches (Channel 4)
Omagh: What the Police Were Never Told - Panorama (BBC One)
Ross Kemp: A Kenya Special (Sky One)

Best news coverage
Channel 4 News (Channel 4)
News at Ten - Chinese Earthquake (ITV1)
Sky News - Canoe Man (Sky News)
Sky News - Mumbai (Sky News)

Best sport
Cheltenham Gold Cup - Denman v Kauto Star (Channel 4)
ITV1 F1: Brazilian Grand Prix (ITV1)
Olympics 2008 (BBC One)
Wimbledon - The Men's Final (BBC One)

Best interactivity
Bryony Makes a Zombie Movie (BBC Three)
Embarrassing Bodies Online (Channel 4)
Merlin (BBC One)
Olympics 2008 (BBC One)

Audience award
To be announced





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 24 March 2009 9:40 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Film and TV awards
 
1

Hmm ...,

25/03/2009 00:19:28
... does anyone still watch Wossy's show? I can't stand the sight of the bloke since his appalling bullying behaviour towards inoffensive Andrew Sachs.

But then, I loathe bullies.
2

Los Angeles,

25/03/2009 02:05:46
Mediocre English comedians nominating other English comedians for an award. Snoresville.

3

Mallory,

Edinburgh 25/03/2009 02:49:54
Who nominates? Is this the BBC once again sticking two fingers at its funders?

4

Charlie Ferrier,

Hamilton 25/03/2009 03:54:41
Its ridiculous to be persecuting him and Russel. It was entertainment at its best and interactive. If all MP's were held up to the same standards they would be in jail. Clearly entertaining and controvertial absolutely deserving of a nomination at the very least!!
5

Robert Funland,

25/03/2009 04:02:15
The BBC really are getting desperate. I'm sure there was a time when their news was considered serious and was respected throughout the world - now it's just a bunch of self involved garbage.

They blew this out of proportion to keep themselves in the limelight - see also the phone-in "scandal" and that politician leaving the dancing show - no one really cares, stop hyping things up when it's not needed.

6

Desert Island Diva,

Middle East 25/03/2009 06:08:55
As with #3 - who on earth comes up with these nominations?? Best Entertainment performance - apart from Stephen Fry, the other contenders have the wit and personality of pond life, and the comic ability of monocellular algae. If this is allegedly the best that British television has to offer then God help us all.
7

For Scotlands Future,

Vote for the SNP 25/03/2009 06:25:52
It's the entertainment industry patting one of their own on the back. After all he was suspended: mutterings of "censorship", "free-speech"......
8

Grumpy,

25/03/2009 07:14:11
I certainly never watch Ross - can't understand a word he says, and even when I can make things out, all he seems to do is talk over his guests, and constantly interrupt them with his so called attempts at humour.

And why no mention of Jack Dee or Jimmy Carr - two of the best quick-witted (and clean!) comedians around.
9

Machelpus,

25/03/2009 07:26:48
Well done the BBC the puppet of this govt once again the heat is taken off Gordychov and the c0ckup he has made of his tenure in Downing St for the last 11 years, gives him the chance to flit off to see Murdoch without too much publicity, in saving the world hes destroying this country...
10

Gordiedoonsooth,

Engerland -missionary service 25/03/2009 07:57:49
He's the ONLY person on TV whom I absolutely cannot bear to watch or hear. I hope I never come across him!
11

sam the god,

25/03/2009 08:11:27
is it the ham shankers award he is getting?
12

Jambo-ree,

25/03/2009 08:38:55
#8 You're absolutely right - the Jonanthan Ross is all about Jonathan Ross and all his so-called 'guests' as simply there to act as props and stooges.

#10 Rarely watched it before but never watch it or listen to his Radio 2 show on Saturdays at all now. Smug self-satisfied slimeball.
13

Observer,,

Glasgow 25/03/2009 08:42:21
Ross was punished for his actions he doesn't need to be punished again. If you don't like him don't watch him, but millions of people do.
14

Courtney,

East Molesey 25/03/2009 08:43:09
Amother example of the politically correct looney luvvies at BAFTA being quite out of touch with reality!
15

Porky,

West Midlands 25/03/2009 08:51:11
Not only has he been nominated (along with a whole raft of other talentless deadbeats)but he will certainly get the award. This is the licence fee suported luvvies saying "How dare you grubby peasants criticise one of us - you aren't fit to lick our boots"
It's time to scrap the licence fee and make the bloated BBC work for a living
16

The Ayrshire Bard,

25/03/2009 09:11:14
#4 I guess you're not yet old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. Ross is an overpaid moron, but what else can be expected in a country in which the Sun is the top selling newspaper.
Good manners and education have been replaced by rudeness, smut and vulgarity.
17

Jacqueline Hyde ,

On the shelf 25/03/2009 09:36:33
As most of the programme's viewers will have just come in from their Friday night drinking, they probably couldn't tell the difference between Jonathan Ross and a hairy cowpat.

That said, full marks to BAFTA for supporting someone with such an appalling speech impediment. :)
18

Scars,

Hamilton 25/03/2009 09:59:22
The mutual appreciation society at it again! Lets all bask in our collective glory .

Same true for the Oscars ! What a lot of tripe !

The academy award. As the world burns we shall still indulge in our bourgeois life style and think its important.

You just cant see them coming out with a semblance of reality !

And the winner of best film for 2009 is : Oh, nobody. it was sh*te year this year and nobody is getting anything, so bu**er off and go try harder you bunch of wanna be's ....

never gonna happen !
19

Active Sassenach,

Luton, England 25/03/2009 10:12:18
BAFTA cannot justify nominating Ross or awarding him any recognition. The best entertainment nominations are a poor crop. Nor can the BBC justify Ross's wages when cuts elsewhere are reducing the quality of what the licence fee requires that the BBC should provide.

The BBC has destroyed its own case for a licence fee by not sacking Ross and demanding that he repay his entire contract fee. It should be cut adrift.
20

Horrible Cankers @Cyber Shebeen,

25/03/2009 10:33:50
Hope "The Wire" wins best international...what a corker...loved it...bring back Omar!
21

John M. Slusser II,

Nantwich 25/03/2009 10:46:24
Hype AND controversy, sorry, but isn't that the "modern" news media? Mind, I do NOT say it is acceptable, but that is what we have. Instead of the "old" ways of searching out news that people truly want to hear, and then reporting it responsibly... oh my, wait, did I say the "R" word? It would be refreshing if ANY news agency on planet Earth would responsibly report actual news, not bash a snippet to death for a minimum of 72 hours constantly. By the end of all that, most anything would seem like news to the hapless masses...
22

Rob,

25/03/2009 10:53:37
The darlings have just devalued their own award.
No-one with a brain will take this seriously - the latest illustration of contempt for the public shown by self-styled celebrity morons.
23

Brideun,

Culloden 25/03/2009 11:11:23
It is alleged that millions watch the Wossy show ( who says? ) if true then this is an indication of the dumbing down of the citizens of the UK due to decades of political interference in the British educational system, those responsible should hang their heads in shame.
24

Joe Macdelta.,

25/03/2009 11:30:55
The BAFTAS dont mean a thing to me, who wants to watch these people fawning over an r-sole like woss, i would rather watch paint dry.
25

FTH22inarow,

25/03/2009 11:49:06
Send in the sniffer dogs to these awards, an root out the junkies among them too.
26

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 25/03/2009 12:11:10
Maybe Ross should ask to be taken off the list.
27

Scottisheart,

Colborne, Ontario, Canada 25/03/2009 13:22:39
Count your blessings...television in Canada is truly appalling and the American T.V. execs constantly take excellent British shows and dumb them up - making them almost unrecognisable. Thankfully, I have access to BBC Canada and a handful of other speciality channels which air British shows. It'll do.

As for Jonathan Ross, personally, I don't find him funny but we don't see much of him in Canada, anyway.
28

Jay Kay,

25/03/2009 13:37:08
great headline in todays rag "Drug-smuggling Britons stay in jail" really, what did they expect? to be let out after a few weeks and sent home.

They might get a bigger shock if sentenced to 100 years each eh!
29

JACKIE 1,

Harlow 25/03/2009 14:33:38
Ross
Never look at anny thing he is part of he has on respect for anny one.BBC Are just as bad as him and the licence fee taken away form,and we will see if they can hold on to there jobs N0. BAFTA AWARDS FOR ROSS.
30

lorraine in canada,

Guelph ontario canada 25/03/2009 14:48:58
I agree with Scottisheart #28 that TV in Canada can be a bit boring, that is Canadian made TV Programmes. I also watch BBC Canada and I think it is marvelleous. The only thing I would say about TV in the UK is that you pay 135 Pounds for a TV License and you get a load of repeats for that. My sister in Edinburgh is always complaining about that. At least here in Canada we don't have to do that. As for Jonathon Ross I don't even think he is that funny.
31

fourthletter,

Edinburgh 25/03/2009 15:35:05
So Ross and Russell joked to Andrew Sachs that Russell had slept with his grand-daughter.
Then it came out that she had indeed slept with Russell and was a member of Satan's Sl**s a slightly deprived dance act that includes lesbian kissing and blood play.
She also makes porn like CFNM porn (do a google search) she even plasters "Andrew Sachs Grand-Daughter" all over the porn web site.

So what exactly did Ross and Russell do that was so wrong again ? She seems hell bent on publicly embarrassing her own grand-father poor old Andrew Sachs they only pointed out the truth to him, your grand-daughter is a (Satan's) s**t !
32

Tartan Viking,

25/03/2009 16:40:53
#31. I don't have much time for Ross, and less for Brand, but you make a good point.

I remember being quite offended by what happened until it was revealed that she had actually slept with that odious Brand guy and was a member of that horrible band. I didn't know about the porn film - that makes it worse.

However, we have double standards in this country. When women like this are the 'victims' they all to often play to media. She is as bad at the two idiots who played the prank in my view.
33

Los Angeles,

25/03/2009 16:49:36
a slightly deprived dance act (Fourthletter)

A "slightly" deprived dance. What does that mean? She can only afford one ballet shoe?
34

Horrible Cankers @Cyber Shebeen,

25/03/2009 17:13:37
32...They had no right to involve Andrew Sachs or his grand daughter in their odious little jape...the two of them are as funny as draping your piles over a summer softened tarmac....how she earns a living is not relevant here because the world did not need to know that she made a horrendous misjudgement in bagging the poncey git....
35

Los Angeles,

25/03/2009 17:38:34

Russell Brand is to play Captain Sparrow's brother in the next "Pirates" with Johnny Depp.

Some might consider "Pirates" the pantomime version of "Master and Commander" but I enjoy every minutes, just the same!

Woss - whose shows cause editors severe headaches obliterating the his foul language and libellous remarks - made the offensive remark that so upset Sachs. Brand made an attempt at apology realising it was wasted spoken to voice-mail. Later, he realised he should have cut the sktech dead, but anybody who has worked with Woss, a man earning millions, knows he dominates the proceedings. Brand later apologised. Woss hid fromn view.

Sach's daughter can do all the libidinous stylistic dancing she likes, as far as I am concerned. It's called "dance theatre."



36

Observer,,

Glasgow 25/03/2009 18:00:42
''Russell Brand is to play Captain Sparrow's brother in the next "Pirates" with Johnny Depp.''

Is it OK to say you look forward to that, or will I be marched off the web-site for being dumbed down ?
37

Ewen Miler,

Wilts 25/03/2009 18:30:09
BAFTA: pathetic!
38

Scottyt,

Saint Paul, 25/03/2009 18:36:41
Go "DOT", and June Brown!! You are terrific.
.
I wouldn't pay such a high licence fee if I still lived in the U.K. just to see the likes of Ross. BAFTA must be desperate to nominate him.
.
I live in the US where television is horrendous; even pay for cable and it is nothing more than repeats on 99% of the service. Probably going to drop that and save money.
39

Tartan Viking,

25/03/2009 19:18:19
#34. HC.

"....the two of them are as funny as draping your piles over a summer softened tarmac."

Need to remember that one.
40

Denham,

hampshire 25/03/2009 20:00:50
This nomination shows just how much B.B.C. bosses are out of touch When is the non-payment for failure going to take effect. Lets sack the lot and start pay as you go his will show how good t.v.is today.

 

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