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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Ofcom to launch BBC Brand inquiry | Ofcom to launch BBC Brand inquiry |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Ofcom says it is going to launch an investigation into Russell Brand's prank telephone calls to actor Andrew Sachs during his Radio 2 show. | Ofcom says it is going to launch an investigation into Russell Brand's prank telephone calls to actor Andrew Sachs during his Radio 2 show. |
| The star was called four times by Brand and guest Jonathan Ross on a pre-recorded show broadcast on 18 October. | The star was called four times by Brand and guest Jonathan Ross on a pre-recorded show broadcast on 18 October. |
| Ofcom said all BBC broadcasters must adhere to its broadcasting code, which sets standards for the content of TV and radio programmes in the UK. | Ofcom said all BBC broadcasters must adhere to its broadcasting code, which sets standards for the content of TV and radio programmes in the UK. |
| The BBC apologised to Mr Sachs on Monday for the "unacceptable" calls. | The BBC apologised to Mr Sachs on Monday for the "unacceptable" calls. |
| Sachs' agent said the Fawlty Towers star was "very upset" after Brand and Ross left lewd messages about the actor's granddaughter on his voicemail. | Sachs' agent said the Fawlty Towers star was "very upset" after Brand and Ross left lewd messages about the actor's granddaughter on his voicemail. |
| The 78-year-old had been due to appear as a guest on the programme, but was unable to appear due to unforeseen circumstances. | The 78-year-old had been due to appear as a guest on the programme, but was unable to appear due to unforeseen circumstances. |
| BBC review | BBC review |
| HAVE YOUR SAYComedians should push the boundaries but what Brand and Ross did was just offensiveIan, Haywards Heath, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYComedians should push the boundaries but what Brand and Ross did was just offensiveIan, Haywards Heath, UKSend us your comments |
| Brand and Ross went on to leave him a series of messages during the two-hour radio show, which included obscene comments about 23-year-old Georgina Baillie. | Brand and Ross went on to leave him a series of messages during the two-hour radio show, which included obscene comments about 23-year-old Georgina Baillie. |
| Brand's connection to Ms Baillie had been revealed during a conversation in the previous week's show. | Brand's connection to Ms Baillie had been revealed during a conversation in the previous week's show. |
| In the first telephone message, Ross suddenly swore and said Brand had slept with her. | In the first telephone message, Ross suddenly swore and said Brand had slept with her. |
| He then apologised and said he "got excited". | He then apologised and said he "got excited". |
| Brand himself apologised for the offence on his latest show. | Brand himself apologised for the offence on his latest show. |
| The comedian has also sent a personal apology to Sachs, but "will not be commenting further on the subject", said his publicist, Barbara Charone. | The comedian has also sent a personal apology to Sachs, but "will not be commenting further on the subject", said his publicist, Barbara Charone. |
| Sachs told the BBC that, as of Tuesday morning, he had not seen Brand's message. | Sachs told the BBC that, as of Tuesday morning, he had not seen Brand's message. |
| However, he had been contacted by Jonathan Ross who sent him a "really sincere apology. A total apology." | However, he had been contacted by Jonathan Ross who sent him a "really sincere apology. A total apology." |
| Asked whether he had seen calls for Ross to be sacked the actor said: "I think Jonathan is in enough trouble as it is. I don't want to add to that." | Asked whether he had seen calls for Ross to be sacked the actor said: "I think Jonathan is in enough trouble as it is. I don't want to add to that." |
| A Radio 2 spokeswoman said on Monday the BBC was "reviewing how this came about" and apologised to listeners for any offence caused. | A Radio 2 spokeswoman said on Monday the BBC was "reviewing how this came about" and apologised to listeners for any offence caused. |
| As of Tuesday morning, the BBC said it had received more than 4,700 complaints. | As of Tuesday morning, the BBC said it had received more than 4,700 complaints. |
| A spokesman for the BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body, said its editorial standards committee had asked BBC management for a report on the incident, and to keep it informed about its review of what went on. | A spokesman for the BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body, said its editorial standards committee had asked BBC management for a report on the incident, and to keep it informed about its review of what went on. |
| "The trust will await this report before commenting further and without prejudice to any complaints on appeal it might receive in due course," he added. | "The trust will await this report before commenting further and without prejudice to any complaints on appeal it might receive in due course," he added. |
| Brand called Sachs' mobile four times during his show | Brand called Sachs' mobile four times during his show |
| Editorial controls | Editorial controls |
| Meanwhile, a senior MP has told Radio 5 Live that the BBC must ensure this type of incident does not happen again. | Meanwhile, a senior MP has told Radio 5 Live that the BBC must ensure this type of incident does not happen again. |
| "It raises far more serious questions about the controls in place to stop this kind of thing happening and the BBC needs to look at that to ensure it can't occur," John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, said. | "It raises far more serious questions about the controls in place to stop this kind of thing happening and the BBC needs to look at that to ensure it can't occur," John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, said. |
| "This was a programme that was pre-recorded and was listened to and we're told that editorial staff had decided that it was suitable for broadcast. | "This was a programme that was pre-recorded and was listened to and we're told that editorial staff had decided that it was suitable for broadcast. |
| "That does seem to be utterly extraordinary - I cannot see how the controls could've broken down so badly and this is something the BBC needs to look into. | "That does seem to be utterly extraordinary - I cannot see how the controls could've broken down so badly and this is something the BBC needs to look into. |
| "The BBC needs to think about whether they want to go on spending this amount of money on individuals who are repeatedly found to be in breach of what are universally held as the acceptable standards of broadcasting," he added. | "The BBC needs to think about whether they want to go on spending this amount of money on individuals who are repeatedly found to be in breach of what are universally held as the acceptable standards of broadcasting," he added. |
| In the House of Commons, Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay and Conservative counterpart Nigel Evans tabled a motion criticising Brand and Ross, calling their behaviour "base and vulgar", while Justice Minister David Hanson said he felt the pair should apologise. | |
| Ofcom's broadcasting code states that broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence - including offensive language - is justified by the context. | Ofcom's broadcasting code states that broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence - including offensive language - is justified by the context. |