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Ross returns with Fry as his star guest
Tim Ross07.01.09
JONATHAN ROSS will play host to Stephen Fry and Lee Evans when his Friday night TV chat show returns this month.
Scottish band Franz Ferdinand will also be Ross's guests as his suspension over the obscene phone calls row ends.
The 48-year-old presenter was disciplined in October after a public outcry over offensive messages he and Russell Brand left for Andrew Sachs.
Today, Sachs's agent said the actor did not want to comment any further on the row, or on speculation that he could also appear as a guest on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.
One further guest slot is still to be confirmed for the programme, which will be broadcast on 23 January. Ross's Radio 2 show will be back on air from 24 January.
Ross lost an estimated £1.5 million of his BBC salary after being suspended for 12 weeks with no pay for his role in the incident. He and Brand left messages on Sachs's answering machine claiming Brand had slept with Sachs's granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
The BBC was flooded with complaints and Brand resigned, as did Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas.
Ross's career suffered another blow when he stepped down as host of the British Comedy Awards.
In December, Ross was cleared to keep his £6 million-a-year BBC contract, despite having been involved in two offensive broadcasts criticised by the Corporation's governing body.
As well as the Sachs incident, the BBC Trust condemned an edition of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, in which the host said he would “f***” Gwyneth Paltrow if his wife would allow it.
The trust said repeated failures of editorial judgment had allowed swearing and other obscene material to be aired in a series of TV and radio programmes.
It said there was no editorial justification for airing the messages left for Fawlty Towers star Sachs.
Reader views (16)
Should not be allowed back on the BBC
- Lynn, Stourbridge
At last welcome back Jonathan. The TV has been dire, nothing but doom and gloom everywhere, the news the soaps the weather the £ and Mr Brown. I need chearing up, so forget about all the moaners out there and give us something to laugh about
- Mr.S.Port, London
Perhaps his show should be on BBC4 at 3am that way those who want him can be identified more easily!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
What about the government cutting the licence fee to £100 a year and asking the Beeb to focus on key areas like current affairs (preferably unbiased ,which may need a change of culture), drama and some sport? The remainder of the luvvies can be dispatched to the nearest job centre.
- Doug Watt, london e14
We are in a deep recession and the BBC has the effrontery to pay Jonathan Ross a grotesque amount for what is really low class entertainment. He has no class, is foul mouthed and not at all funny. This is one family who won't be watching. The BBC should be ashamed of itself taking him back after his disgusting behaviour. But then the BBC is not something we can look up to as we could years ago is it? Too may luvvies running it that's for sure.
- Wooram, Mid Suffolk
Too much money and a self belief that he can say just what he wants,this is the flip-side of so-called celebrity.
Nobody is worth the fee Jonathan Ross commands and especially since his performances are restricted to late night shows on TV and radio.
With his fee countless new talent could be given a chance to shine.
- Bruce Kennedy, Cardiff
I won't be watching him again and really object to paying the licence fee which goes to employing people like Jonathan Woss.
- Angry Of Alton, Alton UK
Never mind the Andrew Sachs episode, Ross should never be back. He has nothing to offer: no wit, no charm, no looks
- Martin, london
Jonathan Ross isn't even funny. I wonder if he would mind if the audience shout out horrible comments about his family? Does the BBC think the world's top stars really want to be questioned by him? You should have seen the looks that the likes of Daniel Craig and Jerry Seinfeld gave him; goodness knows what Gwynneth Paltrow and family think. I want to see the stars interviewed, not Ross. Itv should get someone genuinely funny to compete with him. Sent by a thirty something.
- Dan, Surrey
Ross has burnt his boats,I along with a good many others will never watch this foul mouth egotistic horrible person again.What a waste of space and my license fee.
- Gerald Diamond, Romford Essex
Oh no! I was just beginning to find some enjoyment with the TV schedules on Saturday evenings; now it's back to the radio or out to the pub; anything to avoid having to endure 'wossy'.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
About time his show came back! Friday's on TV have been awful with Ross.
I only hope the 'moral outrage' brigade don't complain to much! If you don't like him, turn over. But don't ruin other people's enjoyment, after all we also pay the licence fee!
- Martin Caldwell, London, UK
It's a disgrace for him to come back on a tax payers channel - it shows the BBC'c contempt for the licence fee payer- what with Eastenders, strictly and other reality rubbish the sooner the BBC is scrapted the better!
- Paul, London
The amount this idiot is paid was always obscene. In the current circumstances, it is an insult to all those who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families. Time to scrap the licence.
- Beatriz, London
I would imagine that Ross has no direct contract with the BBC and gets no "salary" as such. He would be paid through his production company and therefore have no employment rights. I seem to recall that John Birt did this as Director General and was able to off-set his suits against tax. Surely Ross is not doing the same!
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
This person has no value, nothing to offer except juvenile remarks and pub humor. Why do we allow our money to be used to finance these people?
I cannot fathom how the BBC would be negatively impacted by dumping this tiresome bore.
- Hugh, Birmingham, UK
