This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/7695951.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
BBC faces pressure on Brand calls Brown speaks out over prank calls
(20 minutes later)
The BBC is facing growing pressure to explain how prank calls made to actor Andrew Sachs were allowed to be aired as part of Russell Brand's radio show. PM Gordon Brown has criticised Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the BBC must find out how the incident happened "as a matter of urgency". He said the BBC and watchdog Ofcom must take "appropriate action" over four prank calls made to actor Andrew Sachs and broadcast on 18 October.
Brand and guest Jonathan Ross made four calls to Fawlty Tower star Sachs in a pre-recorded show aired on 18 October. The pair left a series of lewd messages on the Fawlty Towers star's voicemail.
BBC audio and music director Tim Davie said it was "too early to speculate" on whether Brand or Ross will face action.BBC audio and music director Tim Davie said it was "too early to speculate" on whether Brand or Ross will face action.
The BBC has now received more than 10,000 complaints about the calls. It apologised on Monday, saying the broadcast was "unacceptable and offensive". Voicemail messages
Earlier on Tuesday, media watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation into the two-hour show. "This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour, as is now widely recognised," Mr Brown said.
Sachs' agent said the Fawlty Towers star was "very upset" after Brand and Ross left a series of lewd messages on his voicemail, including obscene comments about his 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie. "Ofcom have said they will investigate the matter and it is for the BBC, the BBC Trust and Ofcom to take any appropriate action."
Mr Burnham said the responsibility to investigate what had happened rested with the corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, and media watchdog Ofcom. Sachs is upset after Brand and Ross left a series of lewd messages on his voicemail, including obscene comments about his 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
"These two bodies will now have to look at how and why such a serious breach of broadcasting standards happened," he added. The BBC has now received more than 10,000 complaints about the calls.
Tory leader David Cameron has called for the BBC to be "transparent" about how the programme came to be broadcast.
"The main question is why did they allow this programme to be broadcast, given that it was pre-recorded?
"So we need to know who made the decision to broadcast it? How high up the editorial chain did it go?"
Meanwhile, Mr Sachs has told the BBC that on the day the show was recorded, "the producer called me on my mobile to ask whether they could play the recording in question out".
He added: "The signal was poor and I couldn't really hear what was being played down the line to me.
"But I asked whether they would consider allowing me to come in the following week and then the recorded segment would not have to be included."
He said Ross had "personally delivered a letter of apology and some flowers".
"He made no excuses and he was very frank and open," he added.
"He is in a lot of trouble and I don't want to pile any more on him."
He has not "heard anything" from Brand, he said.
He added that his granddaughter had not heard from either broadcaster and that both men "owe her an apology".