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BBC pressured to sack presenters | BBC pressured to sack presenters |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The woman at the centre of the row over prank calls made to actor Andrew Sachs by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross has called for the pair to be sacked. | |
Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie told the Sun the pair should "pay for what they've done with their jobs". | |
Tory media spokesman Jeremy Hunt has added to political pressure to find out why Radio 2 approved the material. | Tory media spokesman Jeremy Hunt has added to political pressure to find out why Radio 2 approved the material. |
The BBC has apologised, and it and watchdog Ofcom are investigating following 10,000 complaints. | |
BBC audiences react to the prank calls | BBC audiences react to the prank calls |
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. | 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. |
'Breach of privacy' | 'Breach of privacy' |
Ms Baillie, 23, said her grandfather was "really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end". | |
"What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?" she added. | |
She said Brand and Ross were "beyond contempt". | |
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 |
"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." |
On Tuesday afternoon, Sachs told the BBC that Ross had "personally delivered a letter of apology and some flowers" since the broadcast. | |
He has not "heard anything" from Brand, the actor added. | |
'Risky line' | 'Risky line' |
Conservative shadow culture secretary Mr Hunt will say in a speech to the London School of Economics later that it is "wrong for broadcasters to produce programmes that legitimise negative social behaviour". | |
He told BBC News the corporation's reaction to the affair was "concerning". | |
"We still don't know who gave permission for that broadcast to go out. | |
"It looks like it broke the broadcasting code about not doing things that are offensive and not doing things that breach people's privacy." | |
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. |
Director of audio and music Tim Davie said it was 'too early to speculate' | Director of audio and music Tim Davie said it was 'too early to speculate' |
Meanwhile, former BBC World Service head John Tusa has called on director general Mark Thompson - who is currently on holiday - to act swiftly to stop "real damage to the BBC". | Meanwhile, former BBC World Service head John Tusa has called on director general Mark Thompson - who is currently on holiday - to act swiftly to stop "real damage to the BBC". |
"Mark Thompson's got to stand up, you know, and the prime minister is involved and the leader of the opposition is involved. | |
"The director general has got to stand up, early, soon, today, and personally get a grip of the whole issue and get a report very, very fast." | "The director general has got to stand up, early, soon, today, and personally get a grip of the whole issue and get a report very, very fast." |
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, BBC audio and music director Tim Davie said it was "too early to speculate" on whether Brand or Ross would face action. | Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, BBC audio and music director Tim Davie said it was "too early to speculate" on whether Brand or Ross would face action. |
"We do offer an unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs and his family," he added. | "We do offer an unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs and his family," he added. |
"We do recognise this was an unacceptable broadcast and I am leading an investigation to ascertain the facts." | "We do recognise this was an unacceptable broadcast and I am leading an investigation to ascertain the facts." |