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BBC pressured to sack presenters | BBC pressured to sack presenters |
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The BBC is coming under increased pressure to sack Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross following their prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs. | The BBC is coming under increased pressure to sack Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross following their prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs. |
His granddaughter Georgina Baillie told the Sun the pair "should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs". | His granddaughter Georgina Baillie told the Sun the pair "should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs". |
Tory media spokesman Jeremy Hunt will say in a speech that Radio 2 was wrong to approve the material. | Tory media spokesman Jeremy Hunt will say in a speech that Radio 2 was wrong to approve the material. |
The BBC has apologised, and it and the regulator Ofcom are investigating following 10,000 complaints. | The BBC has apologised, and it and the regulator Ofcom are investigating following 10,000 complaints. |
Brand and Ross made a series of prank calls to Sachs, 78, famous for his part in Fawlty Towers. The calls were broadcast on Radio 2 as part of a pre-recorded show on 18 October. | |
During the calls, Ross revealed Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. | During the calls, Ross revealed Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. |
Shadow culture secretary Mr Hunt will say it is "wrong for broadcasters to produce programmes that legitimise negative social behaviour". | |
"That is why the BBC was quite wrong to take the decision to broadcast the offensive phone calls", he will say in the speech at the London School of Economics. | "That is why the BBC was quite wrong to take the decision to broadcast the offensive phone calls", he will say in the speech at the London School of Economics. |
Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement Georgina Baillie | Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement Georgina Baillie |
Ms Baillie, 23, said she felt "betrayed" and "embarrassed" the relationship had been publicly revealed to her grandfather. | Ms Baillie, 23, said she felt "betrayed" and "embarrassed" the relationship had been publicly revealed to her grandfather. |
She said he was "really upset, and says he wants the whole situation to end". | She said he was "really upset, and says he wants the whole situation to end". |
She added of Brand and Ross: "They are beyond contempt. They are warped for what they have put me and my grandfather through. | She added of Brand and Ross: "They are beyond contempt. They are warped for what they have put me and my grandfather through. |
"It was bad enough that they recorded these things on my grandfather's answer machine but astonishing the BBC saw fit to broadcast it when they could have stopped it. | "It was bad enough that they recorded these things on my grandfather's answer machine but astonishing the BBC saw fit to broadcast it when they could have stopped it. |
"Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement." | "Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement." |
'Risky line' | 'Risky line' |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also criticised the pair for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also criticised the pair for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show. |
But Comedian Helen Zaltzman, who ran a comedy club where Brand performed before he became famous, told BBC Radio Five Live it was well-known Brand and Ross "toe a particularly risky line" and said that was why millions of people listened to their Radio 2 shows. | But Comedian Helen Zaltzman, who ran a comedy club where Brand performed before he became famous, told BBC Radio Five Live it was well-known Brand and Ross "toe a particularly risky line" and said that was why millions of people listened to their Radio 2 shows. |
"I'm sure they regret this trouble. But, I think the reason why Russell Brand is popular is because... he is a liability. | "I'm sure they regret this trouble. But, I think the reason why Russell Brand is popular is because... he is a liability. |
"He was sacked from MTV, he was sacked from XFM. | "He was sacked from MTV, he was sacked from XFM. |
"This is why people are interested in him as a broadcaster - and why, presumably, he got employed and has a very popular show - about which the majority of people didn't complain." | "This is why people are interested in him as a broadcaster - and why, presumably, he got employed and has a very popular show - about which the majority of people didn't complain." |