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Ofcom to probe Ross and Brand calls
28.10.08
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Ofcom has said it will investigate the offensive phone calls made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand to veteran actor Andrew Sachs.
And Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the calls made by the two presenters to actor Andrew Sachs as "inappropriate and unacceptable".
The calls, made for a BBC radio show, involved a claim that Brand had slept with the Fawlty Towers actor's granddaughter Georgina Baillie, 23.
The presenters also joked that the actor might kill himself as a result. Ross, 47, has since issued a personal apology, with Brand, 33, following suit.
A spokeswoman for the media watchdog, which has received complaints about the incident, confirmed Ofcom has decided to investigate.
Sources also said that a senior editorial figure signed off the pre-recorded Radio 2 programme.
Pressure has been mounting for the BBC to take further action over the incident, which the corporation has apologised for.
The Daily Mail reported that a producer named Nic Philps had been given the responsibility of calling Sachs to check if he would be happy for the messages to go out.
But a source also said that an un-named senior figure gave the broadcast the go-ahead.
The BBC received more than 1,500 complaints, including phone calls and emails, and there have been calls for the pair to be taken off air or sacked.
Reader views (26)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Ross is no Peter Cook and Brand is no Dudley Moore and they are not Derek and Clive either. This smut has been done much better before but harmlessly and not needing the celebrity of others (apart from Greta Garbo).
- Jack Thompson, London
Playground bullies. Are there any responsible adults left at the BBC? Those with the authority to sack these two should themselves be sacked if they find themselves unable to take that decision.
- Ken D, USA
I couldn't stop laughing when I saw the clip and half the office around my desk joining in.
- Serox, London
Much ado about nothing...
No damage done, move on...
- Teddy, Islington, London
If the BBC wantsto retain any of the dignity it still has which is not a lot both these two idiots and their bosses should be fired immediatley, to call them comdeiands is an insult to the greats such as Les Dawson,Morecombe & Wise Jimmy Tarbuck etc the former ones must be spiining in their graves to hear that utter filth described as comdey
- Jim Smith, Grange Cumbria
I think they both need to seek professional help. I think their personalities were manic when i listened to the clip on you tube. A disgraceful way to behave and really disturbing to listen to. Maybe they are better suited to ranting and raving in an insitution of some sort!
- Adam J, Herne Hill, London
I cannot see what this has to do with Ofcom. The pair should be given a choice; either denote six months' salary to charity or be sacked for gross misconduct.
- Michael, London
David Davies is wrong. In most other organisations paid for by the taxpayer, they WOULD get away with it.
- Londonken, London
I hope Johnathon Ross is not sacked from the BBC for this, although I agree that he and Russell Brand went too far with this. It's one thing to rib a guest, as Johnathon does so well on his shows, but it is just not on to make unsavoury comments regarding their family. He's a father of three - he should have known this.
They need to be be shown that they crossed the boundary here, but I think sacking them is not the way forward.
Whilst not everyone is a fan and perhaps he's paid too much, Ross is a brilliant entertainer, especially on his radio show.
- Dominic, London
Why are they both still there? - instant dismissal for misconduct seems about right for these two overpaid vulgar individuals along with the BBC person responsible. Poor Andrew Sachs has more talent, personality and good manners than they can shake a stick at.
- Liz, preston lancs
Brand and Ross are a disgrace and should be sacked. Ross being a family man should know better. I do not wish for my licence fee to go towards their over inflated salary. I agree with Adam it is illegal and as a law abiding person I do not wish to be connected with this act, as I pay my licence fee I am connected.
- Maggie May, London
Hopefully PM boom & bust Brown when prompted by Dennis Skinner MP at PMQ's tommorow will call for the authorities to investigate Brand, Ross and the BBC along with Peter Mandelson and Tony Blair. The fact they are all Labour members/supporters should not influence this request by PM boom & bust Brown.
- Joe, London, UK
Stop their wages, rip up their contracts and prosecute!!!
- Aria, South London
So as license payers we have been involved in funding a public organisation that no only fiddles competition results but also engages and encourages nuisance / prank telephone calls.
It is illegal to fund an organisation that is involved in criminal activity hence the entire British public should stop paying the licence fee which has no basis in a modern society anyway.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
They should be sacked and prosecuted. What they did was outrageously offensive and illegal. Presenters cannot be above the law.
- M. Clark, Rainham, England
I am here on holiday, this was in papers etc. Makes me ashamed to be associated with these 2 idiots, will be writing to BBC proposing they trminate their contracts.
- Ron, Florida USA
To think that prank was funny Brand and Ross must have very sick minds. Ross thinks he is beyond being reprimanded and Brand is just a foul mouth git. If the BBC want to be taken seriously they need to fire this scum.
- Peters London, London England
Ross and Brand both ignorant overpaid gits!We licence payers foot their living!Ross is a parent and should Know better!?Does his wife approve!?What were they on!?
- Rob Chans, brighton sx
These guys are really so arrogant that they will never know what they did wrong. Neither do their bosses so nothing will change. The apologies are career moves. Rule Britainnia.
- Gerrard Portslade, London
Sack them both and sack the BBC Directors who approved this trash. Why should we be paying taxes to the tune of £6 million per year for Ross alone and endure this rubbish. All he is able to do on his Friday night programme is swear. And for gods sake they are NOT stars although if the USA wanted to send them to the stars on a space mission where they would not return for many years then they have my vote.
- Joe, London, UK
Is it possible for we licence fee payers to bring a class action suit against the BBC? Are we as licence fee payers culpable in this matter as sponsors of Brand and Ross? After all, without us Brand and Ross would not be paid. And I used to think of myself as a law abiding citizen--not one who aids and abets.
- Cm, London
Who's decision was it to put the photo of the girl in this afternoon ? I thought I had gone on to the Daily Star in error when I saw it. A friend of the two crude men, to belittle the girl perhaps. There are several of the Ross family employed in the BBC which is perhaps the reason he thinks he can be so outrageous, he has allies. Its taken a week for them to think about an apology, both disgusting people.
- K.Driscoll, Kent U.K.
It's not good enough that men such as these, who in other circumstances are regarded as prominent broadcasters/entertainers, can stoop to such irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour. Their employers should leave them in no doubt that they, and we, the listening/viewing public expect better than this. Moroever they should apologise unreservedly to their victim and should be 'fined' heavily with the money given to Andrew Sachs to pass to any charity of his choosing. If they refuse they should be sacked!
- Burton J Helling, Le Hommet d'Arthenay, Normandy, France
Better if the BBC insisted on standards and fired this scum.
- C Adams, Pont l Abbé France.
Brand and Ross should have their contracts terminated immediately. The anonymous BBC executive who okayed the programme should be named - and fired. Anything less will mean that the BBC's claims about integrity and fairness are phoney.
- Alex, London
Will they be apologising publicly as well, seeing as they insulted him publicly?
- Shelly, London
