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BBC is forced to say sorry after obscene phone calls by Brand
Rashid Razaq27.10.08
THE BBC and its highest paid star have been forced to apologise to actor Andrew Sachs after obscene messages were left on his answerphone - and went out on air.
An official investigation has been opened after Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross made the remarks about the 78-year-old actor's granddaughter.
The BBC issued a formal statement accepting its Radio 2 broadcast was unacceptable.
Sachs's agent, Meg Poole, revealed that Jonathan Ross, who is on a £6 million-a yearsalary at the BBC, had written a letter of apology to the comedy actor, who played waiter Manuel in Fawlty Towers.
She said: "Jonathan Ross has written a letter and has asked how Andrew wanted it sent. It is going directly to Andrew, who is the person involved in this after all. It was a very nicely worded and apologetic email asking where he would like the letter to be sent and how it should be done. I have now seen what the BBC put out and that is fine."
Russell Brand, on an undisclosed six-figure BBC salary, today said he would like to apologise in person to Sachs after joking about having sex with model and musician Georgina Baillie, 23. Asked by reporters outside his north London home if he wanted to apologise, he said: "Obviously I would talk to him directly. I'm not sure you are the right conduit."
Sachs made a formal complaint to Radio 2 Controller Lesley Douglas after asking producers not to air the pre-recorded segment on Brand's late-night show. A BBC spokeswoman said earlier today: "We would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Sachs for the offence caused. We recognise that some of the content broadcast was unacceptable and offensive. We are reviewing how this came about and are responding to Mr Sachs personally. We also apologise to listeners for any offence caused."
Ms Poole said the actor had been "very upset" after the 18 October incident, in which Brand, 33, and Ross, 47, left messages suggesting Brand had slept with Ms Baillie.
Sachs had failed to respond to a call for an arranged interview for Brand's show, so the comedian and Ross, his guest, carried on talking to the machine. More than two million listeners heard Brand say he had "respect for your lineage and progeny" at which point Ross blurted out "he f****d your granddaughter". The stars could face being fined or reprimanded publicly by bosses.
They could also face criminal charges if complaints are made to police, although a Met spokesman said none had been received. Anyone found guilty of making malicious or abusive phone calls can be sentenced to up to six months in prison or fined up to £5,000 under several laws governing such calls.
Brand's producer Nic Philps and Radio 2 programmes head Lewis Carnie will be questioned over why the segment was aired.
Brand made a light-hearted apology on his show on Saturday, saying: "I'd like to take this opportunity to issue a personal Russell Brand apology to Andrew Sachs, the great comic actor who played Manuel, for a message that Jonathan and I left on his answerphone. But it was quite funny. But, sometimes, you mustn't swear on someone's answerphone and that's why I'd like to apologise personally."
Ms Baillie, also an erotic dancer, was today returning home after performing her horror-themed show with dance troupe Satanic Sluts Extreme. Advisers to Ms Baillie, stage name Voluptua, were holding talks this afternoon over the row.
Reader views (18)
Sunday Times Culture Section 2/11/08.I quote....
" He's filthy on the phone, he's filthy on the radio,and now he's filthy in his book. Jonathan Ross it seems,just
can't stop talking about sex ". I am coerced into subsidising this person through my licence fee ! Fire him. Everytime I see or hear his name I am reminded of his obscene phone call. Together with the BBC.
- Mike Ryan, christchurch UK
I think Jonathan and Russell should be sacked unless they make a acceptable statement and some actions will be taken, because they are not only present themselves in front of people, but also present the UK biggest broadcast. The media will inflence people's thinking specially for the young people.
- Maggie, London
Simply sack and proscecute them. If I or any member of the public had done the same I would already have been charged and if we worked in the BBC ITV BT etc I would have been sacked. The Laws are already in place use them.
- Den, London
Yes I believe they should be charged too.
- Mrs Kathryn H Hemmings, Wrexham North Wales
The contract which the BBC have with British Telecom states that "You must not use the service to make offensive, indecent, menacing, nuisance or hoax calls".
So just how many offenses have those two jokers committed?
I think they should be jailed. Even if you apologise for a crime, you still have to do the time.
- Haskey, London SE1
I'm not condoning what they did, but you notice no one has said it isn't true? Call me old fashioned, but when I read the last para of the article here, I couldn't help laughing. The lady in question doesn't exactly sound like a shrinking violet, does she? In fact, I'd say she sounds ideal for Russell! Maybe her grandfather shouldn't be so surprised after all! I will be v.disappointed if you don't put up this comment because I would like to redress the balance of opinion here, which I think is disproportionate to the matter in question.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
I'm utterly disgusted how two grown adults who have get paid vast amounts of money and are in the public limelight can insult a fellow professional.
They both need to take a look at themselves and perhaps the BBC ought to consider sacking these idiots and spending licence payers money more wisely!
- Anon, London
I've always thought that Russell Brand needed medical help and this has just proved it.
- Bob, Barnstaple
I cannot even begin to think what was going thru Ross' head when making those dispicable remarks. He is a father. What would his reaction have been if someone left lewd comments about his children on his answering machine? BBC have not got the balls to sack either of them but surely a long suspension must be on the cards.
- Sue, london
Sometimes people need to be reminded that just because they are famous, they are not untouchable. I hope they will be sacked immediately.
- Tode, London UK
Oh dear, the Beeb has scored an own goal here, a one- two own goal by two of its most expensive players. They may just have sewn the seeds of their own destruction. I'm sure Jonathon and his bank manager don't really give two monkeys
- Dezi, coventry uk
'Moron' is far too easy. Depraved cretins who would giggle if they pushed over an old lady and she smashed her head.
Th bbc, Brand and Ross should all both pay substantial damages, and pay for public apologies. They all humiliate the UK, Ross and Brand are unfit to be seen, and the bbc needs a shake up.
Some months ago bbc Radio produced a reading that was effecively an incitement to kidnap and abuse young girls. Who wants to see or hear such disgusting people?
There was a lot of pathetic bbc academic comment by the editor on how interesting and high quality writing. Next the bbc will be promoting the views of Hitler or a mass murderer as fine writing of 'high quality'. The comments siad a lot about the sad mental attitude of the bbc editor who clearly needed counselling.
- Jim, london
We pay these two jokers - no, sorry, they're not at all funny - obscene amounts of money, and we demand they both be summarily sacked. I would have thought this represents a golden opportunity for the BBC to save a few bob without any pressure group complaining.
- Wpw, London, UK
It appears that the offensive comments made were done delibereately to cause personal harm to Mr Sachs and the individuals should therefore be sacked for gross misconduct.
- Bethany Williams, London
Both Ross and Brand are 'walking, potential cost savings'. Fire them both.
- Mike, Berks
Sorry is not enough. They should sack the two morons!
If the BBC wants to spend the money WE pay for the licence, it should stick to a minimum of decorum and regrain from offending the majority of licence payers who do not think this kind of filth is funny. There is nothing funny about upsetting a grandfather with lurid details of an imaginary sexual encounter with his grandaughter.
- Dbr, London
What can you expect from a pig but a grunt? Why is anyone the slightest bit surprised at the imbecilic and juvenile behaviour of Ross and Brand? But we should expect more from those in charge of the BBC whose decision it was to broadcast such malicious, offensive material. I do hope that the Sachs family sue all those concerned and also puruse criminal proceedings.
- Anna Kaye, St Albans, UK
So yet another banal "celebrity" breaks the law and the Police do nothing about it ! The BBC should be ashamed, I imagine that BBC staff rules were also breached but no doubt that will be sweep under the carpet as well.
- Joe, London
