BBC suspends Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand over phone prank

JONATHAN Ross and Russell Brand have been suspended in the wake of the controversy over their lewd calls to Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, the BBC said today.

The decision came as the BBC received 18,000 complaints over the furore.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson said it was "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".

In a statement, the BBC director-general apologised to licence payers
for the comedians' actions.

"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 said.

"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.

The BBC boss added that the Corporation's investigation into the incident was close to completion and that "lessons would be learned".

"Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue, he said.

"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."

In a written statement, Mr Thompson said the broadcast was a "gross lapse of taste" and a "severe offence".

He said he had apologised to actor Mr Sachs over the broadcast.

He 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.

"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."

A BBC spokesman said the corporation will comment in due course on what will happen to the pair's shows which are due to air this week.

Ross had been understood to be filming his weekly BBC television chat show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross today.

Guests Sir David Attenborough, Disney star Miley Cyrus, comedian Frank Skinner and band The Killers were all expected to attend.

The BBC had said before Mr Thompson's statement that the radio shows of Ross and Brand would still air on Saturday.

Mr Thompson is thought to have been on holiday as the row erupted but the BBC would not comment.

A Parliamentary motion criticising the calls has been signed by 13 MPs from across the parties, and several more have signalled they will back it.

Tory MP Nigel Evans, one of the motion's signatories and a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said the Director General's statement was "long overdue".

"It would appear that this statement has been made just minutes prior to Prime Minister's question time and with the focus of attention shifting towards the Director General," he said.

"He has made the right decision in suspending the pair and by stating that they had crossed a line that was totally unacceptable.

"He must now make sure that the investigation is speedy and must fully cooperate with the Ofcom investigation.

"Should he find that they have breached their contracts in the way that they performed this offensive prank, then they should no longer be in receipt of licence payers money and their contracts should be terminated."

Mr Thompson's statement comes 11 days after the offensive prank was broadcast on Radio 2.

It follows yesterday's criticism by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who described the behaviour of the presenters as "inappropriate and unacceptable".

In a message left on his voicemail, the pair claimed Brand had slept with the Fawlty Towers actor's granddaughter Georgina Baillie, 23.

The presenters, in the pre-recorded show – which was cleared to air despite Sachs being upset by it – also joked the actor might kill himself.

Meanwhile, Brand, who is thought to be paid more than £200,000 a year, was preparing to fly to the US for "work reasons".

A spokesperson for the star was not commenting on the BBC's decision to suspend him.

Brand was travelling out of the country to continue to make films, he said.

A spokesman for Ross, who is said to earn £6 million a year from the BBC, was unavailable for comment.

A source later said that tonight's recording of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross has been cancelled.

Miss Baillie called today for Ross and Brand to be sacked for their lewd phone calls.

The aspiring model also threatened that she could make an official complaint to police, but admitted she had slept with Brand.

She branded the high-earning presenters "cruel sickos".

In an interview with The Sun, Miss Baillie said: "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life? My grandfather is really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end.

"I will be speaking to him to ask whether we should complain to the police and we'll be making the decision as a family.

"They (Brand and Ross) should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs."

She also said that the Radio 2 bosses who allowed the DJs' on-air calls to be broadcast should also go.

She added that she felt "totally and utterly exposed and betrayed" by the calls.

Ross, 47, has issued a personal apology to Sachs accompanied by flowers, with Brand, 33, following suit.

A BBC spokeswoman later confirmed that the presenters' radio shows and Friday Night With Jonathan Ross would be replaced by "other programmes".

She had no more details about what the replacement programmes would be.

Brand publicly apologised to Mr Sachs as he left his home in Hampstead, north west London, today.

Surrounded by dozens of photographers and reporters, the star said: "I'm sorry that I have upset Mr Sachs."


Here is the full statement from BBC director-general Mark Thompson:

"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."