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BBC pressured to sack presenters Jonathan Ross TV show to go ahead
(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. Filming for Jonathan Ross's TV chat show will go ahead at Television Centre later despite the Radio 2 prank call row, the BBC has said.
Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie told the Sun the pair should "pay for what they've done with their jobs". But Sir David Attenborough, due on as a guest, says he is "discussing the situation with the BBC".
Tory media spokesman Jeremy Hunt has added to political pressure to find out why Radio 2 approved the material. Meanwhile, Georgina Baillie has told the Sun that Ross and Brand should be sacked over prank calls made to her grandfather, actor Andrew Sachs.
The BBC has apologised, and it and watchdog Ofcom are investigating following 10,000 complaints. The BBC has apologised, and it and watchdog Ofcom are investigating.
BBC audiences react to the prank callsBBC 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. Other guests due to appear on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross are comedian Frank Skinner, US teen singer Miley Cyrus and band The Killers.
The BBC could not confirm whether Ross's Saturday morning Radio 2 show, as well as Brand's Saturday night show, will also go ahead as planned.
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 Russell Brand's pre-recorded Saturday night 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.
More than 18,000 people have complained to the BBC.
'Breach of privacy''Breach of privacy'
Ms Baillie, 23, said her grandfather was "really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end". Ms Baillie, 23, told the Sun the pair should "pay for what they've done with their jobs".
She said her grandfather was "really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end".
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
"What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?" she added."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".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
"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.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.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".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".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."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.""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.
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."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."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also criticised the pair for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show.
He is also expected to face questions from MPs over the affair in prime minister's questions later.
BBC News website readers can follow prime minister's questions live on the BBC News website.