Monday, 8 December 2008

Ricky Gervais: Jonathan Ross is devastated by phone scandal

2008 British Comedy Awards winner admits chat show host went too far over Andrew Sachs voicemail

Ricky Gervais plays tennis with Jonathan Ross

Ricky Gervais has revealed that he doesn’t think Jonathan Ross deserved to be suspended from his BBC job for 12 weeks.

The chat show host was taken off air after he and pal Russell Brand, 33, left prank messages for Andrew Sachs, 78, during a Radio 2 show in October.

Ricky thinks the public should move on now Jonathan, 48, has apologised for his actions.

‘It did go too far,’ he says. ‘Jonathan was devastated. [But] the whole thing got blown out of proportion.

'Obviously what they did was wrong. It wasn’t very funny. Jonathan has apologised. He knew he made a mistake – but he didn’t kill anyone.’

Ricky, 47, predicts Jonathan, 48, will bounce back when he's reinstated next year.

‘He’s a strong character,’ he tells The Sun. ‘I’d count Jonathan as one of my better friends over the past 7 years.’

Angus Deayton replaced Jonathan as host of the 2008 British Comedy Awards, broadcast live on ITV1 last night from London Television Studios.

Russell Brand won the Best Live Stand-Up award, which he accepted from Adam Sandler in LA.

‘I would like to dedicate this award to Jonathan Ross,’ Russell announced.

‘There are no comedy awards without Jonathan Ross, he is the king-maker.’

Ricky Gervais won Best Television Comedy Actor for last year's Extras Christmas Special.