BBC suspends Brand and Ross

I CANT BELIEVE THAT ROSS WOULD LET SOME IDIOT LIKE BRAND RUIN WHAT HE HAD GOING. AFTER BEING AT THE TOP AND VERY POPULAR, HE'S LET SOME FIVE MINUTE WONDER SPOIL IT.
Comment by eric on October 29 13:23

Bet they're still getting paid! Who's laughing more now!?
Comment by Eve on October 29 13:29

This is political correctness gone mad. They haven't hurt anyone and this girl did actually sleep with Mr Brand. Yes its in poor taste but what else do we expect from these two? They are forward and crude at times, the BBC know this and so does everyone else in the country. The fact everyone is getting on their high horse about it is just typical of this country. They've apologised and that should be the end of it. This woman who dances in a group called Satanic Sluts is hardly a role model herself.
Comment by K Orwin on October 29 13:32

I am sorry but they shouldn't of been suspended. The producers of the show allowed the message to be left and went along with the prank, the show was pre-recorded two days earlier and was allowed to go on air by the 'managers of Radio 2' so I think these guys are being made scape goats. I think the blame should be with the managers and producers of the show, and the presenters get to pay a fine to Mr Sachs' Charity of choice and that be the end of it, instead they are going to spend thousands on an 'investigation' I think there is much more going on in the world to worry about then this whole saga.
Is the BBCs Director General going to be suspended for allowing it all to happen?
Comment by saidmypiece on October 29 13:32

Oh for god's sake!
Why are people making such a big deal out of this? it was a joke, and they've apologised, mentioning that the Prime Minister has commented on it, well this is why this country is in such a state!
Comment by Smiffy on October 29 13:33

Sack them both.

No one is big enough to be paid for, and get away with such disgusting behaviour.
Comment by Km on October 29 13:35

Johnathon Ross' behaviour is a national disgrace. He thinks he is funny. Most of us think he is disgusting. He "earns" - allegedly - several million £'s - for what?
GET RID OF HIM NOW AND FOREVER! The licence payers pay his wages. We want him sacked.
Russel Brand is a silly overpaid child jumping on the bankwagon of his "hero". He should grow up. Sack him too.
Comment by gill garraghan on October 29 13:41

This has just escalated - Brand and Ross are known for there off beat and outragous behaviour - and they are both loved for it - this has just gone too far - an apology and rapped knuckles will suffice.
Comment by ELISABETH RICHMOND on October 29 13:43

Both Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand are known for being outrageous. It was a joke and it should be looked upon as such! The tabloids invade peoples privacy every day and get away with it. This whole thing has been blown out of proportion!
Comment by Vicky on October 29 13:47

People who do not respect others should not be paid £6 million a year by the tax payer. Rudeness is never funny, but they have sunk to new depths and should not be given air time
Comment by veronica on October 29 14:01

Hi,

I don't find brand funny AT ALL , I think most of his jokes are disgusting.
I think Ross is funny , but sometimes tries to hard to get people to laugh . He often will tell really crass jokes , NOT FUNNY AT ALL.
Bring back Parky!
xx sp
Comment by sonia puri on October 29 14:04

I agree entirely with 'Saidmypiece' -all involved in the show were wrong, it was poor judgement, but there are lots of pranks that go slightly over the mark that don't receive this much flack. They recognise the err of their ways, lesson learnt and put this all behind them. The BBC can tighten up on procedures and broadcasting limits; that's what would be expected. Suspending someone is only necessary when it puts them or others at risk - otherwise it's a cost pressure as the stars will be paid whilst suspended. Such isn't good use of the public purse either.
Comment by SG on October 29 14:05

Seriously, Gordon Brown would fair better at trying to sort the mess this country is currently in. As for Russel Brand & Jonathan Ross, a telling off & allowing the matter to blow over as quickly as possible would surely be best for all concerned???
Comment by michelle on October 29 14:18

Everyone just forget it - it was a joke. Besides, how can anyone who works for a company named 'Satanic Sluts' be embarrassed about something like this?
Comment by ML on October 29 14:20

I trust all those people saying this was just a 'prank' would be happy to have their sex lives talked over and exposed to their close relatives.... .and have a few million people listen in for 'entertainment'. Yeah, Right.
And regardless of what tasteless is printed in Tabloid newspapers, the last I heard the public are not obliged to pay a licence so that they can do so. The B.B.C is the national broadcaster, paid for by our taxes. That changes everything. If Brand and Ross want to make cheap and tacky 'jokes' then they can do it in their own time....or someone else can pay them.
Comment by Jan Mozelewski on October 29 14:24

I've never witnessed such an over reaction in my life. It was joke - nobody died. People need to lighten up a bit and calm down. If you open your eyes, you'll see that there are far worse things happening in the world that deserve our attention.
Comment by Richard Warwick on October 29 14:42

How would Ross feel if the messages were directed to him about his daughter? They've both got away with too much for too long. They should be fined a few million to charity each.
Comment by Brenda on October 29 14:53

At last people are speaking up against those who think that abuse, bullying and shock tactics are entertaining. Let's start paying those who have genuine talent.
Comment by Sid on October 29 15:00

They are both known for being childish and are - for some reason - popular because of it. That's fine, we don't have to watch or listen to them, so no problem there. However, to come home and find a message like that on your answer'phone is not on! Yes, the senior executives who allowed the pre-recorded show to be broadcast should also be suspended. There are far worse things happening in the world (and don't you think this smacks just a tad of overpaid celebs being made a scape-goat for overpaid BBC execs in this time of recession?) but how would you react if someone left a message like that on your elderly relative's telephone? Mr Sachs comes from a different generation and should not be subjected to such juvenile antics regardless of what his grandaughter might or might not have done with Brand.
Comment by Lou on October 29 15:00

OMG this has been blown way out of proportion!!it is the BBC who should be blamed for this and not just brand and ross... and this girl is part of a group called satanic sluts?!! i dont understand how the grandfather could be so utterly shocked by that message! she s an embarassement to herself and to her family she doesnt need any help from those 2!!!
Comment by mimi on October 29 15:06

Hey Jonathan , how would you like your daughter/grandaughters sex life being public knowledge, and joked about by two mindless morons?
Wake up to yourself
lp
Comment by liz on October 29 15:07

This surely is being built up by the girl - who just happens to want to be a model and therefore needs a public profile. The prank call was not that great, but to be fair he did not lie, he had slept with her! If Sachs wants the situation to end surely his granddaughter should respect his wishes and stop splashing herself accross the media. Ok Brand and Ross went a little too far - but seriously there were only 10 or so complaints before the press and the granddaughter built this up to something more than it ever needed to be. I personally really enjoy the work of both broadcasters and think it will be a sad loss if they are dismissed over this.
Comment by fi on October 29 15:17

I couldn't agree more with the people who are saying that this a massive over reaction. If we got this het up over every joke at someone else's expense that a comedian made, we'd never be able to broadcast any comedy ever again! And yes, I also think that someone who is a member of a band called "Satanic Sluts" has got a bit of a cheek coming across as holier than thou in this whole stupid row! Move on people, it's not a matter of life and death!!
Comment by Lisa on October 29 15:21

They joked about Andrew Sachs committing suicide, what if the upset had made him do it or what if he takes a heart attack with the upset, would it be a big joke then?
Comment by Alison McDougall on October 29 15:21

it was just a joke there is'nt a bad bone in there make-up . if the grand daughter in guestion is upset about it and does get money over this if it was her reputaion she was worried about she should give the money to a charity.
Comment by angie h. on October 29 15:26

The important thing here is that this was not a live recording, it was pre-recorded yet the BBC still decided to air it - fully aware of the offensive content. Forgot the phone call, even Ross saying the F word on Radio would have got plenty of complaints. Now lets see someone from the BBC fired for making the decision to air the show.
Comment by Angela on October 29 15:51

I do agree that there are much worse things happening in the world but Ross is paid out of our money and at 6 million pounds a year I would have thought he would like to hold onto his job!! Behaving as if he were in the playground with Brand is stupid and it is outrageous that a 78 year old gentleman should be subjected to these idiots.
Comment by give me ross's job on October 29 15:51

Oh really! This is stupid...there's pictures of her all over the net in her 'satanic slut' costumes and this has embarrassed her!? I'm sure her grandfather is more appalled at her career choice. I think she is milking this to the last in the hope she gets loads of tv appearances and gets her foot in the door to kick start a TV career.
Ross and Brand are 'tasteless'....ha,what are satanic sluts...?
Comment by claire on October 29 15:56

Ross and Brand are performers with over-inflated egos who will always look for the shock factor. The real error in judgement is that of the producer who allowed this to be broadcast. Fire him and move on.
Comment by Jo on October 29 16:01

This is symptomatic of the whole attitude of the BBC producers who seem to be just out of their teens and lacking in experience, decency and taste. Little Britain in America?? showing private parts??
It's no wonder we hear so much swearing from young people in public places and in schools. It seems the only adjective begins with F.
Comment by Mike on October 29 16:21

As stupid as the pair were, Mr Ross in particular...I feel it is the BBC that are at fault here. Artists will always endeavour to raise the bar when it comes to being the best or standing out from the crowd. It is the BBC's job, nay DUTY to decide what actually goes on air. The producer of that show should be suspended and Mr Ross and Mr Brand should be ordered to pay costs to Mr Sachs and his granddaughter for the upset they caused and the matter dropped, there are more worrying times ahead of this country.
Comment by Sharon on October 29 16:59

The producers should be blamed for allowing the programme to air; I'm sure Andrew Sachs is justifiably upset, but his granddaughter is an "exotic dancer" so her sex life is already in the public domain; he was booked to be on the show and if he'd been in to answer the call, then Brand & Ross would not have had to flannel and fill time, which they did by leaving messages. The messages were in poor taste, but they are comedians and you don't get cutting edge quality without danger. The only way that the BBC can be a leader in the field of broadcasting is by hiring cutting edge people - if they didn't, no-one would listen or watch, and then there would be even more complaints about the waste of licence payers money! You can't have it both ways. I think the producers are at fault for not vetting the content properly. I don't want to lose these broadcasters - I for one will miss my Saturday mornings with Jonathan Ross. BRING HIM BACK! Let the dust settle and reinstate them.
Everyone else should just chill out a bit. Ross earns a lot of money because he deserves it! He's been in the business for decades, and we shouldn't allow this one mistake to wreck his career.
Comment by Lucy on October 29 17:35

Jonathan Ross has been boring on through TV and radio for long enough, but the BBC people who manage the 'talent' don't watch or listen to tv or radio and are ignorant of how boring this is. This could be an opportunity to give his jobs to other people! Make Russell Brand atone for his sins by brushing his hair properly. Then forget about it. But I bet we won't be able to, as Georgina Baillie has sought advice from Max the Publicist, no doubt in a bid to launch herself into the tabloid conscious!
Comment by CJG on October 29 17:35

By resigning, Russel Brand has demonstrated considerably more class and dignity than the calls would lead you to expect. I don't suppose Jonathan Ross will follow suit, but I do think the BBC should get rid of him for this. Every day elsewhere employees are being sacked for much lesser offences than bringing their employer into disrepute. His £6m salary is undeserved and I resent paying for it. Time for the BBC to take a stand!
Comment by K on October 29 21:57

Yes I totally agree, Ross and Brand did this as a joke, its just their personality. I don't believe for one second that they did it to bully or hurt someone. I think the grand daughter is milking it just to get publicty, she admitted to sleeping with Brand...embarrassed (how) do you see what she does for a living? I think they made a silly mistake, it wasn't overly bad, people need to stop been so judgemental. Its what these two guys do for a living, sometimes they can be quite funny, more times they go too far. I just think people are becoming far too serious, they need to lighten up,. I don't think they deserve to loose their jobs. She (granddaughter) will now highlight what was said, and blow it all out of proportion, (they did not do it in spite, if they did it been nasty that would be a different story, they didn't so move on.
Comment by Linda on October 30 00:09

The world is in financial meltdown and yet this is headline news? I think 'over reaction' would be an understatement, they are comedians, get over it. How is it that the BBC are taking no responsibility for all of this? Should it not be the person whose decision it was to let the programme go to air that should be suspended? And the prime minister getting involved is just laughable.
Comment by Floozytoo on October 30 15:03

to every sad person who rang up to complain about that programme, WITHOUT seeing it...just lighten up. they are both incredible entertainers and if you weren't entertained- you turn the radio off! bbc radio 2 should be to blame for broadcasting it if it was so offensive- thats what a CONTROLLING TEAM are there for. ahh it makes me so angry. and now i have to miss out on my favvourite friday night programme (jhonathon ross) because he has been banned for 3 MONTHS. jesus, i hope all those complainers are happy.
Comment by outraaaged! on October 30 20:58