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Should Wossy return?
21.11.08
As the BBC Trust decides to reinstate Jonathan Ross, two writers give their fiercely contrasting views
YES, says Nick Curtis
Another Friday, and another boring, Ross-free weekend yawns before us. The suspended broadcaster's BBC1 chat show used to be the full-stop to the working week, his Radio 2 programme a bright and witty start to Saturday.
Now we have a yawning gap in the TV schedule and a selection of tepid nonentities on the airwaves who would rather wet themselves than give the slightest offence.
Of course the BBC should reinstate Ross. The man is a natural broadcaster and a bracing corrective to the banality of most so-called BBC entertainment.
His Friday night show is the only one that attracts A-list guests, chucks them in with C- and Z-listers, and treats them all with healthy, refreshing irreverence. On radio he's nimble, mercurial and daring but never vicious. He asked the BBC to edit the questionable material out of the "Sachsgate" broadcast, remember?
He is also one of life's great enthusers, be it about film, music or the more arcane aspects of popular culture. His presence as host of an awards ceremony or charity event is the guarantee of a fast, loose and entertaining evening.
This nonsensical non-scandal has already cost far too many scalps. If the corporation decides to let Ross go it will be a victory for petty, small-minded conservatism.
Any presenter, comedian or writer who says anything someone else considers offensive will be fair game. We'll revert to the sycophantic banter of Parky, the nursery radio of Listen with Mother. And Comic Relief will be hosted by Joe Pasquale.
No, says Liz Hoggard
Ross's time is up. His interview style is borderline misogynist, he surrounds himself with sycophants, and, as the Russell Brand debacle proves, he has a very ungrown-up attitude to sexuality. (Sorry, boys, but sex is something two consenting people do together; no grown-up man laughs about having f***ed a girl).
It slightly breaks my heart to say this, because in the early days I was a Ross fan. His razor-sharp wit and puppyish enthusiasm made him a genuine taboo-breaker. Every year, as the host for the British Comedy Awards, he was more cutting-edge than the nominees.
I liked the way he operated in an amoral universe where everything is up for grabs. By demoting everyone, he created a democracy where only the witty and self-effacing survived.
As a straight man trapped in a camp body, he also embraced his vulnerability: his weight has fluctuated over the years and his wardrobe is more pantomime queen than Italian stallion.
But more recently the yack has faltered. Got nastier. The Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow interviews were simply toe-curling. Even Yoko Ono managed to unseat him (literally) by making him swap chairs. Ross - Mr Mainstream - simply couldn't cope with a strong woman.
The iconic chat show matters. As viewers, we care passionately if they are lazy or poorly researched. We want the host to be a person, not a brand, and we want them to bloody well listen to the answers. Which is why Ross has to go. As Angus Deayton found, you can't do satire when you're fatally wounded.
Ross's Friday night show is the jewel in the BBC1 crown. But it's time to give someone else a chance (Alan Carr, Simon Amstell?). Ross has become the joke - and it isn't funny any more.
Reader views (21)
The Brand affair may be a storm in a teacup but surely what we have witnessed over the past few weeks is people who previously had been branded "out of touch" and having "no sense of humour" when they complained about this sort of humour, suddenly finding a voice.
I personally cannot understand why Ross has to have 3 shows. I have never felt he was the correct person to front the film show and have had to switch the radio off in the car more times than I can remember because of the content of his blether mid-morning on a Saturday when I have children in the car. I want to listen to Radio 2 and I like a laugh but I don't want my children to think his lewd, perverse banter is a normal and acceptable attitude to women and sex.
This is not about the Sachs call any more it is about majority licence payers (I have been paying for a tv licence for 27 years) views being respected by the BBC and it maintaining a certain standard which in recent years has lapsed.
And Jonathan, if you read this, please do the decent thing, 3 people have lost their jobs - don't come back.
- Deirdre, Scotland
What a storm in a tea cup! I don't know if the people who get so excited about this have anything important going on in their lives? I enjoy listening to Jonathan Ross on Saturday mornings and I as a licence payer want him back!
- Stephen, London
Norcot, where are these "GROWN UP men" you speak of? Canada?
- Bloke, London
Was there ever anybody less funny than Ross? I don't think so. Someone once told Ross he was funny. Now he believes the hype. The rest of us get on with our lives, turn off when he comes on and thank the stars we've been spared the past few weeks from his inanities. Anybody tried watching his Film Show effort? embarrassing, especially after his predecessor. Change the record, BBC.
- Carole Woddis, London
The man is arrogant and full of his own importance both on and off the television. His salary is obscene and an insult to normal working people who are forced to pay the BBC's licence fee while earning a fraction of this money.
The situation and his prominence in broadcasting is the product of his agent's ability to bull with BBC officials about his so called talent. Now these same officials have bowed to more pressure fearing the audience figures will be hit.
Perhaps if they paid their staff a wage that allowed them to survive instead of something that allowed them to demand ridiculous money based on their egos and the cut their agent would get, the BBC might even broadcast something with real talent that was worth tuning in to view.
The current cheap drivel, such as reality shows, one size fits all shows like Strictly Come Dancing (getting people to vote),karaoke dressed up as talent and smutty crap put out by Ross and Brand is not entertainment.
I think his salary should be brought into line, say £35,000 per year. If he doesn't like it then he joins the dole queue. The same goes for those that allowed the content to be broadcast.
- Diana, London
If Nick Curis (whoever he is) admires Jonathan Ross, it certainly says something about him......
- Godfrey, London
Is it any surprise that so many people use the 'F' word as if it doesn't matter any more? The BBC are willing to pay a vast salary for someone to promote this language.
- Brian, Bristol
He is an untalented, egotistical, arrogant numbnut. he cannot interview, his questions are designed only to publicise the "celebrities" new book/film/CD or as a vehicle for his overarching sense of self importance.
Shallow, insulting and useless. Stop wasting my money.
- Kerry, Purley
Liz, you obviously don't understand how TV works. Replacing Ross with Simon Amstell will see ratings fall through the floor or celebrities staying away = no A list celebrities = no ratings etc etc = Simon interviewing the Worzels and some actress from Eastenders. zzzzzzz
- Chris Stenson, London
Evidently, Charlie of London, you don't know many GROWN UP men!
- Norcot, Oakham UK
Of course he should return. He's an great entertainer. As a regular listener to his Saturday morning radio show, I can assure the more conservative minded that whilst being incredibly witty, it is also very much a family show, as it should be, being broadcast on Saturday morning. Johnathon soon steers his guests away from unsavoury areas or language should the need arise and his converstions with listeners before the phone in quiz reveal his down to earth, family oriented views on life.
My point is, far from being the constantly foul mouthed big headed soaker upper of licence fee that a lot of the negative commenters stream about, Johnathon adapts to the nature of the broadcast.
After the watershed, he pushes the boundaries. This has got him into trouble, (although the offending material should have been edited out) and there have been consequences. The limits have now been set. Let him serve his time and then welcome him back.
Personally, I'm looking forward to his return. If he's not to your taste, watch or listen to something else
- Dominic, London
He used to be witty and funny but over the years has become a sycophant to the guests he likes and ignores those he does not. His humour has become cruder in an effort to shock but it has simply become repetitious and annoying. He's nearer 50 than 40 but swearing like a teenager trying to impress his mates has become wearing. Time for someone new. He can be picked up by another channel - but I suspect his ratings following the Sachs incident will be much lower and he'll have to accept a much lower salary.
- Ken, Brighton, East Sussex
I will not pay the licence fee for this load of trashy foul mouthed overpaid rubbish.........Why not sack him and he could get a job cleaning up the streets.......We can all then have a laugh for free!
- Valerie, Hanworth Middlesex
I turned him off ages ago. If, in error I tune into Radio 2 and he is on, that show gets rejected as well. Far too boring and self-centered. Apollo is a wonderful choice to show on Friday/Sat/Sunday nights. I think the BBC will learn when the viewing rates go right down. By then it will be too late as they are tied to having to pay him all that money which we give to them. It is pretty obvious that is why they cannot sack him as they will have to pay the rest of the contract to him.
- Lesley, cambridge
Personally I stopped watching/listening to him a while ago as it was all getting so samey, but I do object to so much of my licence fee going to the same person.
Tim, I agree with you - Live from the Apollo was much better.
- Deborah, london
I feel that Ross should be seeking psychiatric help in view of his behaviour.In the photo he is unconrollably excited by the smut and the whole disturbing incident appears to be verbal masturbation.
- P.Doff, rennes france
Far as I am concerned the man is now damaged goods. His chat show has changed from having guests that interested the viewing audience to a show that he effectively talks about himself for an hour, with guests that have to listen to him talking about himself. Basically it me me me me me me all night long. What he doesnt say on TV gets put over to his radio show on Saturday mornings. Me me me me again! Boring and self centered!
Thankfully the BBC have shown some decent films and are bringing back the excellent Live From the Apollo into this timeslot, perfect Friday night entertainment and better than an overpaid "entertainer" talking about himself.
- Tim, London,
No, ne is damaged goods & needs to reinvent himself!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
"no grown-up man laughs about having ****ed a girl"
Evidently you don't know many men.
- Charlie, London
Liz i dont care about the size of his suits nor which chair he is sitting on, you have obviously had the tv on but your attention is elsewhere , ok so you dont find him and his shows funny anymore, but millions of others do, me included. I hope he comes back soon and i would like nothing better than for him to have Andrew Sachs as his first guest on his Friday night show. Now that would be good TV. BBC ARE YOU LISTENING.
Hurry back Rossi boy we need a laugh in these miserable times, and there are not enough people out there doing it at the moment
- Mr S.Port, London
This overpaid prat has been should have been sacked for the comments made on air.
- Mort, Chester
