Comedian quits as broadcaster investigates controversial prank calls
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have been taken off air by the BBC over their prank calls to Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs.
Both have been suspended pending an investigation, director general Mark Thompson has confirmed, but now Russell Brand has quit the corporation.
'I got caught up in the moment,' Russell told ITV's News At Ten. 'I don't want to cause any more trouble. I take full responsibility.
'Jonathan Ross is a kind family man who just did something a little bit silly.'
The BBC has received over 27,000 complaints about the radio broadcast which featured the comedians leaving lewd messages on 78-year-old Andrew's phone.
The calls, in which the pair talked about Russell having sex with the veteran actor’s granddaughter Georgina Baillie, 23, were broadcast on the former drug addict's pre-recorded Radio 2 show on 18 October.
Today Jonathan Ross has issued a statement about his behaviour. 'I am deeply sorry about my juvenile remarks,' he says. 'It was a stupid error of judgment on my part.'
Russell, 33, and Jonathan, 47, have been criticised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown for their ‘inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour’.
But at the National TV Awards this evening, Big Brother host Davina McCall showed support for the duo.
'They're both brilliant at their jobs,' she said, 'we know they're naughty boys.'
Russell was sacked by MTV after arriving at work dressed as Osama bin Laden the day after 9/11 and by Xfm radio for reading out 'pornography' on a Sunday afternoon show.
In 2006, he boasted he'd slept with Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly but had to admit his claim was false after the singer confronted him.
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Very sad people who have complained. An adult show with adult humour. These sad people have empty lives, why watch in the first place. Both top people. RB is the best comic we have had in years.
this has been blown out of all proportion.. the bBC had 2 days to edit the show, chose not to so therfore RB and JR are being publicly vilified.. there were 2 complaines after broadcast, now wverybody has jumped on the bandwagon demading their heads.. we have better things to do with our time.. this is the fault of the BBC, they chose not to respect Andrew Sachs wishes of it being edited..
The whole thing is Ludicrous but hilarious. The fact Andrew Sachs was meant to be on the show in the first place, means he was was well aware of what the shows content. The whole thing has been compltely blown out of proportion probably by the grandaughter who is feeling a little media hungry. All hail Jonsell!
Georgina Ballie is pathetic, she dances with a burlesque group called the Satanic Sluts, yet she takes great offence to Russell Brand making a joke that he slept with her...it was a JOKE, its doesnt desreve all this media attention!!
While I think this has all blown out of proportion, an apology & bunch of flowers from JR is not enough. I think a substantial donation to the charity of Andrew Sachs choice would help, and let's hear the end of this silly matter, with JR & RB having learned a lesson
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