Russel Brand

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:18 pm

Oh, and in response to the decision...I can only say that today is the death of near-the-knuckle programming on the BBC:

Ross suspended for three months

TV's Jonathan Ross has been suspended from all BBC shows without pay for 12 weeks, following the prank calls row.

Director general Mark Thompson called Ross's actions "utterly unacceptable", adding that the presenter should regard it as a "final warning".

The controller of BBC Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, resigned over the broadcasts involving Ross and Russell Brand.

Douglas said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret".

Thompson said Ross's three-month suspension was "an exceptional step". It is believed the suspension of pay will cost the entertainer more than £1 million.

Mark Thompson on the prank calls controversy

"He absolutely overstepped the mark," said the director general.

"A 12-week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair."

"I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened.

"We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future," said Thompson.

Thompson met with the BBC Trust for several hours on Thursday to discuss the crisis over lewd phone calls made to actor Andrew Sachs during Russell Brand's Radio 2 programme.

The show saw the pair make obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie.

The Trust has demanded an on-air apology and called for editorial standards in the BBC to be tightened, with particular attention to "high risk" programmes.

In a statement issued after their meeting with Thompson, the Trust said it was "dismayed" that the broadcasts "fell so far short of audience expectations".

It said there had been a "deplorable intrusion" into the privacy of Mr Sachs and his granddaughter."

They issued an unreserved apology to licence fee payers, as well as to the Fawlty Towers actor and his family.

Douglas, who took up her post as controller in 2003, admitted in her resignation letter that it had been a "painful week" for Radio 2.

She said: "I am proud of what we have achieved together over the years and I shall miss you all."

"The events of the last two weeks happened on my watch. I believe it is right that I take responsibility for what has happened," she wrote.

In his response, Thompson said the decision had been accepted with "real sadness".

Speaking on BBC News 24, he said: "Given the scale of the BBC output it is inevitable from time to time programmes will encounter difficulties, people will make editorial misjudgements."

"The ultimate editorial responsibility for BBC programmes lies with producers and editorial managers."

Alex Lester, Radio 2's weekday morning presenter, has will replace Brand as the station's new Saturday late night host, following his resignation on Wednesday.

BBC One's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross has been cancelled, and the 1994 film Speed will be shown in its place.

Ross's Saturday morning radio show has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules. His regular slot will be occupied by Richard Allinson.

A Sunday morning repeat of Ross's Film 2008 is being substituted with an edition of natural history programme Wild. However, a decision about what will replace Wednesday's show has not yet been taken.

Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio & Music, said: "What is important now is that we remain focussed on creating great programmes for our listeners which remains, as always, the number one priority of the group."

Ross will return to work in mid-January.

Don't know about you but I'm really looking forward to endless re-runs of Bargain Hunt.

Lord Kangana · Post by **Lord Kangana** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:46 pm

At least it'll be cheap as chips!

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:53 pm

Meh.

I can't blame the bbc in this. It's self preservation, as no doubt if they'd kept them on they would have faced some kind of action from the government. I just can't believe that a mass hysteria about something no doubt a fraction of the complainers have heard has brought it to its knees. F*cking Daily Mail, not good enough to wipe my arse with (would probably be uncomfortable too, but that's not the issue).

communistworkethic · Post by **communistworkethic** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:58 pm

FD wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:I read the first couple of posts and decided not to waste my time on you n Brand
That is just so out of order, yet another post that the mods just let you get away with.

go on then, I'd be delighted to know how this is so shocking? You didn't by any chance complain to the BBC about Brand & Ross only after you'd seen the papers?

officer_dibble · Post by **officer_dibble** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:27 pm

About time some karma hit the beeb on their arses

Our situation at the moment all stems back to Panorama!!

CrazyHorse · Post by **CrazyHorse** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:35 pm

Apparently they've also made Brand and Ross sign the Sachs Offenders Register....

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:42 pm

CrazyHorse wrote:Apparently they've also made Brand and Ross sign the Sachs Offenders Register....

Can admins ban themselves?

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:04 pm

Anyone watching the Brand show on 4?

Fúcking quality

Daxter · Post by **Daxter** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:13 pm

Verbal wrote:Anyone watching the Brand show on 4?

Fúcking quality

Yep- had me in hysterics!

The old man and him dying those birds, and the woman and the horse- brilliant.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:18 pm

"I'm a woman, and I have natural desires..."

And he's a HORSE!

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:39 pm

FD wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:I read the first couple of posts and decided not to waste my time on you n Brand
That is just so out of order, yet another post that the mods just let you get away with.

????? What mod action was needed there? People disagree all the time. If the mods banned everybody that did, there'd be nobody here.

KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab · Post by **KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:42 pm

I disagree.

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:46 pm

KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab wrote:I disagree.

State your reasons then?

KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab · Post by **KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:50 pm

Sorry. should have added a

or a

. Shouldn't try a bit of humour without a horrible emoticon thing.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:50 pm

KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab wrote:I disagree.

KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab · Post by **KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:51 pm

Someone got it, anyway.

Zulus Thousand of em · Post by **Zulus Thousand of em** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:56 am

FD wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:I read the first couple of posts and decided not to waste my time on you n Brand
That is just so out of order, yet another post that the mods just let you get away with.

This is the funniest comment in this thread. A beauty!

Err... it is a joke, isn't it?

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:29 am

Haven't Ross and Brand just been placed on the Sachs offenders register?

[apologies to all B3TA subscribers, who've just seen it...]

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:32 am

Just 23 hours and 54 minutes too late...

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:32 am

Puskas wrote:Haven't Ross and Brand just been placed on the Sachs offenders register?

[apologies to all B3TA subscribers, who've just seen it...]

Or anybody who's read the post from Hoss a few posts up?

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