PDA

View Full Version : Were the BBC right to suspend Brand and Ross?



Dan2nd
29-10-2008, 05:09 PM
Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand are to be suspended and all their shows taken off air until the BBC has investigated their prank calls made on Radio 2.

It follows a series of calls made by the pair to actor Andrew Sachs on Brand's Saturday night programme.

The actor, 78, said he would not be reporting the matter to police.

Meanwhile, Brand has told reporters: "It would be silly of me to speak without thinking because that's caused all this trouble in the first place."


I am not going to take it anywhere. I'm not out for revenge

Andrew Sachs

He added he was sorry he upset Sachs, famous for his part in Fawlty Towers, over comments made about the actor's granddaughter.

Sachs, 78, said he was "not surprised" by the BBC's suspension of the pair but added: "I am not going to take it anywhere. I'm not out for revenge."

The calls were broadcast as part of Russell Brand's pre-recorded show on 18 October.

Russell Brand said he was sorry he had upset Andrew Sachs
During the calls, Ross swore and said Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter.
More than 18,000 people have complained to the BBC while watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation.

The corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, has now called a special meeting of its editorial standards committee for Thursday.

Director general Mark Thompson will report management findings to the meeting and tell bosses what action he plans to take.

'Breach of privacy'

Announcing the suspensions in an earlier statement, Mr Thompson said he would be returning from a holiday and would "in the coming days, announce what action we will take".



This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers

Mark Thompson


Statement in full

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

"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."

He added his "own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast".

BBC One show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was due to have been filmed at BBC Television Centre, west London, later on Wednesday.

Guests on the show were to have been Sir David Attenborough, comedian Frank Skinner, US teen singer Miley Cyrus and band The Killers. The BBC said people with tickets to be in the audience should not attend.

A decision has yet to be taken on what should be shown in its place on Friday night.

Ross's Saturday morning radio show, as well as Brand's Saturday night radio show, have also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules.

'Lovely old man'

Meanwhile, Ms Baillie, 23, told the Sun the pair should "pay for what they've done with their jobs".



Brand and Ross both have Saturday shows on Radio 2

She said her grandfather was "really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end".

"What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?" she added.

She said Brand and Ross were "beyond contempt".

"It was bad enough that they recorded these things on my grandfather's answer machine but astonishing the BBC saw fit to broadcast it when they could have stopped it.

"Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement."

'Not handled well'



Andrew Sachs is best known for playing Manuel in Fawlty Towers
Prime Minister Gordon Brown criticised the pair for "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour", while Conservative shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a speech on Wednesday that it was "wrong for broadcasters to produce programmes that legitimise negative social behaviour".
He told BBC News the corporation's reaction to the affair was "concerning".

Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman, former chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, said it was "essential for the BBC to ascertain quickly who was responsible for approving this pre-recorded episode".

"This has not been handled well - clearly this should not have been broadcast in the first place and if Mr Thompson did not know about it then he needs to cut some heads off of the people that didn't let him know," he told BBC News.

Sir Gerald added that if media regulator Ofcom were to fine the BBC for the incident, it should not be paid with licence payer's money.

"If the BBC is fined I believe the two people involved should pay the fine and not the licence payers," he said.

I've heard a lot about this in the news recently everyone seems to have different opinions, some in support of Johnathon Ross and Russell while others seem to loathe them for the prank.

Do you agree with most of the media and am up for them being suspended? or do you think everyone has hyped this up to much?

FlyingJesus
29-10-2008, 05:11 PM
The radio calls that sparked this (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zrUZ2N8x2GI)

Warning, contains strong language!

Geraint
29-10-2008, 05:21 PM
The BBC broadcasted it. It's not them two they should be blaming. People get the **** taken out of all the time, even their family.

MissAlice
29-10-2008, 05:34 PM
It was a pre recorded show, so whoever was responsible for allowing it to be aired without it being edited should take all the blame.

cocaine
29-10-2008, 05:36 PM
Nope

1) I love their sense of humour - and yes I have heard the whole clip.
2) Whoever gave it the green light for it to be broadcast should be suspended.
3) The BBC are giving in too easily to pressure, remember that the whole thing was pre-recorded, and there have been many calls for Brands & Ross' sacking.

Niall!
29-10-2008, 05:50 PM
People should realise it's a joke, and they should lighten up.

BHDan
29-10-2008, 06:14 PM
one of brands funniest moments on the show ever, the issue wasnt even brands fault, it was ross

russels quit now and i say good on him.
all complaints are from old people without a sense of humour

Robbie
29-10-2008, 06:27 PM
Thats what this whole 'GIV BRAND N ROSS DA DEFF PENALTYZZZZZZZZZ' is all about? :|

Hayd93
29-10-2008, 06:31 PM
Good dam right they should be as well. i know if our RSL even dreamed of doing this we would be fined by ofcom and even disaloud from broadcasting over fm. Hopefully ofcom will slap bbc with a nice big fine and hopefully even give ross and brand a personal fine.

Geraint
29-10-2008, 06:32 PM
Russell Brand has resigned now, anyway.

This pressure has been piled on from the public. Andrew Sachs just wants an apology. If Ross gets sacked, he should sue the BBC because it's their fault.

Wootzeh
29-10-2008, 06:36 PM
Russell Brand has resigned now, anyway.

This pressure has been piled on from the public. Andrew Sachs just wants an apology. If Ross gets sacked, he should sue the BBC because it's their fault.
gd hes a *** anyway

newWORLDorder
29-10-2008, 06:41 PM
Nope

1) I love their sense of humour - and yes I have heard the whole clip.
2) Whoever gave it the green light for it to be broadcast should be suspended.
3) The BBC are giving in too easily to pressure, remember that the whole thing was pre-recorded, and there have been many calls for Brands & Ross' sacking.


gospel.


Everyone is being so damn sensetive.. it was hilarious, the producers should get a talking to, but that means no moar Matt Morgan rofl.


'Finish it in duncle daddys hands? Good girl for duncle daddy!'
LOL
it was epic, I am listening to the podcast again now, like the 5th time this week D:


Russell will go back to MTV/Channel 4.
If Ross gets fired, he will take the 'parky slot' on ITV imo.

Kardan
29-10-2008, 06:47 PM
No, not at all. It's been blown out of proportion and people are forgetting it was pre-recorded. Do the people in charge of these shows now listen to it before-hand?

newWORLDorder
29-10-2008, 06:48 PM
Tbh Aiden they are in the studio as it happens... it was not intended to be malicious, and the beeb are like 'THEY HAD RLY RLY BAD INTENSHUNS.' which really wicks me off.

Hayd93
29-10-2008, 07:18 PM
Tbh Aiden they are in the studio as it happens... it was not intended to be malicious, and the beeb are like 'THEY HAD RLY RLY BAD INTENSHUNS.' which really wicks me off.
I can tell you for a fact if a RSL like us did that in a studio we would be at very least be landed with a massive fine and maybe even banned from applying for rsl lisances.

ideabox
29-10-2008, 07:28 PM
I hope they do so that I can watch speed on Friday. Haven't seen that in years!

Kaveri
29-10-2008, 07:44 PM
Yes - I have a neutral view of both of them, I don't particularly watch/listen to their shows but what they've done was completely out of order. There is an argument that it wasn't them who aired the voice mail but they still made it and they have upset a professional actor who hasn't done anything to deserve it. They crossed the line and I'm not surprised the BBC don't want anything to do with them any more. I don't think this is mediated at all as the BBC wouldn't report on, and then mediate their own story that demeans themselves.

Bef
29-10-2008, 07:53 PM
I find it hilarious from what iv herd. havnt listened to the podcast in hole yet as my speakers are broken. The girl has admitted that she did indeed sleep with russel brand. Seriously, dont sleep with a womaniser if u dont want to get slated in someway afterwards. Its the producers fault for airing it.
I guess that anybody whos disgusted by this isnt a fan of shows such as fonejacker? i dont see how this is different to that!

Virgin Mary
29-10-2008, 08:35 PM
I do but only because I hate them both.

drama
29-10-2008, 08:48 PM
the whole thing has escalated so much imho.

i saw the video earlier, while out of order in some parts i thought most of it was hilarious, Georgina Baillie claims that this is all horrible on her, but from the pictures seen of her/whats shown of her attittude she will only love the attention that will be put on her 'acting career'.

it's all blown out of proportion, i was watching some Russel Brand on YT and all the comments are hate, people need to get off the bandwagon and realise it was harmless (well apparently not) fun.

Decode
29-10-2008, 08:58 PM
There was a few inapropriate comments but that was it. I don't see why they have to be suspended.

Earthquake
30-10-2008, 01:39 AM
Russel brand quit, although it isn't even serious, I was creasing up while listening!

newWORLDorder
30-10-2008, 12:47 PM
Russell Brand has quit Radio 2.. ITV, C4 and Five are saying 'Russell Brand Resigns'.. as if he has quit. They must be having a right laugh the other Channels.

Hazza
30-10-2008, 12:48 PM
Russell Brand has quit Radio 2.. ITV, C4 and Five are saying 'Russell Brand Resigns'.. as if he has quit. They must be having a right laugh the other Channels.
Russ did resign right after he was suspended.

whoooosh
30-10-2008, 12:55 PM
i think it was a bit of a over reaction
it wasnt even that bad

FlyingJesus
30-10-2008, 02:00 PM
I guess that anybody whos disgusted by this isnt a fan of shows such as fonejacker? i dont see how this is different to that!

Exactly what I was going to say. I don't find Fonejacker funny most of the time myself but this Brand/Ross phonecall had me in stitches. I know it caused offence but what they were saying was true so it's technically not a prank call anyway, so there shouldn't be any penalty for that. The only thing I can think of that wasn't good radio behaviour it Ross actually swearing, other than that it shouldn't be a problem.
Sachs himself has said he isn't out for revenge and is happy with the apology.

flyingbrick
30-10-2008, 03:24 PM
It was a stupid thing to do really, but I think it has been taken out of proportion. Calling up a 78 year old man to tell him about how you ****** his grandaughter and then broadcasting it to millions is a bit tasteless as far as I'm concerned - especially when it is someone as esteemed as Andrew Sachs.

But at the end of the day, they're a pair of comedians, most of the time they are funny (well......Ross is) and that is why they were hired. They got a bit carried away and they did something daft - this is why things are pre-recorded, and the BBC should not have aired it.

I like to laugh, but I didn't find this funny. I've listened to it and it just sounds a bit desperate and awkward to me.

It's insane how overboard people are going though. We've far more important things to worry about than this and nobody should be having to resign. (Even though, for the record, I hate Russell Brand's guts and I don't think he's funny at all).

I hope Jonathon Ross doesn't have to leave to. I think he's funny and talented and good to have around.

.:.:jjm261:.:.
30-10-2008, 09:26 PM
I've just listened to the thing, and imo Russell brand didn't do nothing, it was Jonathan Ross

whoever allowed this to be aired should be suspended not him or Jonathan

and they sang a lovely song...

alexxxxx
30-10-2008, 09:33 PM
Good dam right they should be as well. i know if our RSL even dreamed of doing this we would be fined by ofcom and even disaloud from broadcasting over fm. Hopefully ofcom will slap bbc with a nice big fine and hopefully even give ross and brand a personal fine.

where/when do you have an RSL?

Pazza
30-10-2008, 09:58 PM
30,000 complaints xD

But that wouldn't be so many if it wasn't all over the word.

NEWS JUST IN:

The radio producer or w/e who was in charge has resigned.
Jonathan ross suspened for 12 weeks unpaid.

GommeInc
31-10-2008, 12:19 AM
It's both Ross and Brand's fault AND the editors. Whether the show was aired or not, they still left the message on the answer phone, so if the show wasn't aired they would still be in trouble. But because it was aired, it was both the editors and the hosts fault.

Yonder
31-10-2008, 12:56 PM
Nope i thought it was hilarious, people need to get a sense of humour and stop complaining at little insignificant things, and concentrate their complaints of real issues and crime through out the world. There is alot worse stuff going on around us that them two have a joke.

They wont sack Ross as he is one of the BBC's most paid employee's and to be honest IMO he is the only reason i'd watch BBC.

Supersam
31-10-2008, 01:08 PM
Russell's already resigned from BBC radio now hasnt he?

I doubt they will remain suspended for long...

Dan2nd
31-10-2008, 05:34 PM
Jonathan Ross has been suspended for 3 months and has stepped down from hosting the ITV comedy awards. He is however still being paid by the BBC

N-Dubz
31-10-2008, 11:08 PM
No not really.

1) The girl clearly said "it could have ruined our relationship." HELLO ? so will selling your story to the papers about how you slept with brand, and she did exactly that after all this came out.
2) The show is pre-recorded so tbh the BBC thought it was funny, so they aired it.
3) While the show was actually on it got 2 complaints, when it went into the paper because they have **** all but the economical crisis to write up (and probably didnt have time to make up **** about victoria beckham or someone) and they deicded to write about it, that furthered the complaints to 10k+
4) Ross and Brand did apologize, not their thought 60 year olds cant take a joke. Seriously, theres alot more stuff said on BB and they dont get that many complaints. He accepted there apology and didn't want to further it, I guess the pensioners needed something other then watching a touch of frost. Look into this, it was actually HILARIOUS.

GommeInc
01-11-2008, 02:38 PM
4) Ross and Brand did apologize, not their thought 60 year olds cant take a joke. Seriously, theres alot more stuff said on BB and they dont get that many complaints. He accepted there apology and didn't want to further it, I guess the pensioners needed something other then watching a touch of frost. Look into this, it was actually HILARIOUS.
It's for that reason alone it was wrong to phone up 3 times and to mess around on his answer machine. It's not a matter of whether or not he found it funny or that he can't take a joke, it's the fact that the interview wasn't meant to be about his daughter nor to be a joke to that extreme. It was funny to listen, because Brand was so worried about it, but it was a bit out of order and not actually apologizing, unless you considering messing around while doing it a serious apology, which it really wasn't when it was a serious matter.

Excellent2
01-11-2008, 03:04 PM
I'm a tad bias so I say Brand deserved what he got (I just don't like him) But as many have said it's really the editors fault.

Imp!
01-11-2008, 03:54 PM
I despise russell brand

GommeInc
01-11-2008, 04:40 PM
I'm a tad bias so I say Brand deserved what he got (I just don't like him) But as many have said it's really the editors fault.
Not really, they still left the messages :P A BBC Spokesperson can't break into the man's house to delete the messages ;) Although, if they didn't air it then maybe there would be less issues in terms of who listened to the recordings, but media coverage would still be quite bad, once the grand-daughter heard about it.

Hayd93
01-11-2008, 09:03 PM
After looking in more this is what seems aparent.

The main BBC boss was away on holiday, Because theres are 2 big presenters it seems like no one had "The balls" to say to ross and brand nope this is not going out its to rude you will have to record it again.

What they did was wrong and as i said i really hope ofcom do fine the bbc and hopefully impose a personal fine on ross. The worst outcome that could happen is ofcom could issue a broadcasting ban on ross meaning he will not aloud to present his own show on tv/radio ever. But because its not verry serious this will not likely happen.

Excellent2
01-11-2008, 09:46 PM
After looking in more this is what seems aparent.

The main BBC boss was away on holiday, Because theres are 2 big presenters it seems like no one had "The balls" to say to ross and brand nope this is not going out its to rude you will have to record it again.

What they did was wrong and as i said i really hope ofcom do fine the bbc and hopefully impose a personal fine on ross. The worst outcome that could happen is ofcom could issue a broadcasting ban on ross meaning he will not aloud to present his own show on tv/radio ever. But because its not verry serious this will not likely happen.Why only ross? :S

Sentrax
03-11-2008, 12:19 PM
NO they were not right to suspend them!
It's all in good taste, and it was funny.
It's just gone way out of proportion because all the old people that have nothing better to do have been complaining. I saw a thing on BBC where there was a line of old people outside the BBC HQ waiting to complain, they were interviewed and saying things like 'Jonathan Ross has a filthy mouth, should be washed out with soap!'. This is NOT the 1930's mate, jog on.
x

Nuka-Cola
03-11-2008, 06:25 PM
i think what they did was wrong but i think its all been blown out of proportion and

FACT : There was actually only 2 complaints the day it happened . so how did it mount up to 18,000 thousand complaints

AlexOC
03-11-2008, 09:21 PM
I think its pathetic, its not a big deal, because of this all of his grandaughters secrets like her porn movie have come out, and now he knows, but he wouldnt of have if this died down.

2 People complained at the time, then that rose when people heard about it a week after, and most of the complainers didnt even hear the broadcast, and havent heard it to date

way out of hand tbh

clueless
04-11-2008, 10:46 PM
yeah i think they were, its a matter of principle. i like them both and find them funny but they must know that they cant over step the mark. they need some boundaries and if they had just got away with it then they would just continue to insult people, which i guess is part of the act but this was too extreme and they have to know they cant do some things. there was 30,000 complaints, i think, yeah that was spurred on by the media im sure but they still bothered to complain and were still against what was said and bbcs loyalties should lie with their audience and these were the people complaining so they need to show something was done. however i think the people that broadcast it should get into trouble ASWELL as they did just as much harm.

N-Dubz
05-11-2008, 03:13 AM
oh well its still hilarious & well done on brand in landing Jack Sparrows brother in the upcoming POTC

Fugato
05-11-2008, 08:21 AM
If they didn't keep repeating it, no-one would of known.

clueless
05-11-2008, 03:38 PM
If they didn't keep repeating it, no-one would of known.

no point in what ifs, people did find out and they should deal with the consequences of that

dtmm
05-11-2008, 05:53 PM
The producer there should of stopped it happening. tbh all I see it as is a joke. Some people have taken it a little far (but the board programs are loving it, there are some funny jokes about it).

The BBC will not fire Ross for nothing that's why he has only been removed for 10 weeks. His friday night show is a big hit and so is the film one too. Brand well the BBC see nothing in him, but can get programs on channel 4 easy.

Look at how many complaints top gear gets a year but the program is still going, only because the show is a big hit and so are the people presenting it. if top gear and the presenter were not good they would of axed the show ages ago.

[Jay]
05-11-2008, 07:29 PM
It was a joke like calm down people expect famous people to behave diffrently like they have never heard swear words in thier lives...

Moh
05-11-2008, 07:46 PM
If they knew Brand and Ross were doing a show together, *** were they expecting?

MissAlice
05-11-2008, 08:14 PM
Today on five from 10:00pm to 11:05pm

Documentary exploring the controversy caused by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's recent radio programme, and the repercussions of their prank call to veteran actor Andrew Sachs. Featuring an interview with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie, with contributions from publicist Max Clifford, one-time Heat editor Mark Frith and a selection of Brand's former colleagues.

Should be interesting!

N-Dubz
05-11-2008, 10:19 PM
if you ask me, Sachs grandaugther said she didnt want to make it "awkward" or make it "ruin" her relationship with her grandfather, then why is she selling magazine stories and making shows about it.. Milking the tiny bit of fame it brought to her doorstep, shes loving it if you ask me!

Freeza101
06-11-2008, 07:57 PM
Ok i heard the thing on utube.
And well it was nothing to be sad about.
Just a Joke. Seriously get over i. LMAO

Tim.
07-11-2008, 05:53 PM
I feel that they should actualy both be fired, along with the producers. Its basically bullying and its shocking that they've ruined someone elses career for a laugh.

Axel
07-11-2008, 05:57 PM
Russel Brand is still on Channel 4 so meh.

drama
07-11-2008, 06:19 PM
I feel that they should actualy both be fired, along with the producers. Its basically bullying and its shocking that they've ruined someone elses career for a laugh.
Andrew Sachs' career hasn't been ruined at all haha..

KnuxIBF
07-11-2008, 06:51 PM
a) I hate Brand & Ross - They're so up their own arses, it's unbelievable.
b) It's their fault for making it, and the BBC Producer(s) who allowed it for broadcast.

Ajthedragon
07-11-2008, 08:51 PM
YES! The simple answer.

Access
07-11-2008, 08:53 PM
russell brand should be killed

AgnesIO
08-11-2008, 12:20 PM
Its ridiculous.

Before the media told people about it, there were 2 complaints :l

Suddenly when the sun and all of them print it, 30,000 complaints.

NO ONE HEARD IT ANYWAY!

Totally unfair, brand and 'w'oss should be kept

ToxicPaddy
08-11-2008, 01:02 PM
I think the joke went a little too far, but he should not have been suspended. Also they were in the papers for ages, while there was other more important situations going on in the world, which is bad. It's only a prank call..

Hayd93
08-11-2008, 01:05 PM
Its ridiculous.

Before the media told people about it, there were 2 complaints :l

Suddenly when the sun and all of them print it, 30,000 complaints.

NO ONE HEARD IT ANYWAY!

Totally unfair, brand and 'w'oss should be kept
The 30,000 have only been sent to the BBC though. If they wanted to the bbc could delete them and say go away basically. The regulator ofcom itself has received around 2000 complaints on the matter though.

JackBuddy
08-11-2008, 05:39 PM
No, it's just another one of the Daily Mail's pathetic campaigns.

Decode
09-11-2008, 01:33 PM
I dont see how it could have got 30,000 complaints. I doubt there is even 30,000 listeners. When the media started making a big deal of it the complaints started coming in. Its rediculous.

British
09-11-2008, 01:42 PM
No, but yeah.
The joke went too far,

Loser
09-11-2008, 02:29 PM
It was just a way for the public to get rid of a couple of people they don't like. They weren't offended, it was just their chance to get the one up against Brand and Ross.

Jack.Lfc
10-11-2008, 12:21 AM
No its silly, i found it funny.

Janet Snakehole
12-11-2008, 11:43 PM
I genuinely thought it was hilarious.

Clowgon
14-11-2008, 10:14 PM
No there were wrong. It should have been the producers who sent the phone call out. If they never sent it out, Ross whouldnt have loss 15 Million.Brand whouldnt had to resign. OK its totally rude and unacceptable to have someone saying that you have slept with your grandaughter but i think the public's reaction to this has gone way way to far.

Tim.
15-11-2008, 04:24 PM
Andrew Sachs' career hasn't been ruined at all haha..

Thats rubbish ofcourse it has, he has resigned from a job which he had because of it all.

Calabrian
15-11-2008, 04:28 PM
No they were wrong to fire them
:D

Decode
18-11-2008, 08:32 AM
From wiki: Only two complaints had been received in the week after the show was aired on 18 October, to an estimated audience of 400,000 people, for Ross' use of an expletive.[5]

2 people complained until the newspapers reported it over 1 week later. How stupid :L

Want to hide these adverts? Register an account for free!