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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Brand quits BBC over prank calls | Brand quits BBC over prank calls |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russell Brand has resigned from his Radio 2 programme following prank calls he made with Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs. | Russell Brand has resigned from his Radio 2 programme following prank calls he made with Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs. |
| It follows a public apology from Ross over his "juvenile and thoughtless remarks" in the calls. | It follows a public apology from Ross over his "juvenile and thoughtless remarks" in the calls. |
| Earlier, it was announced the pair would be suspended and all their shows taken off air until the BBC has investigated the calls made on Radio 2. | Earlier, it was announced the pair would be suspended and all their shows taken off air until the BBC has investigated the calls made on Radio 2. |
| Fawlty Towers actor Sachs, 78, said he had "respect" for Brand's decision. | Fawlty Towers actor Sachs, 78, said he had "respect" for Brand's decision. |
| Sachs was upset after Brand and Ross left a series of lewd messages on his voicemail as part of a pre-recorded show, taped on 16 October. | Sachs was upset after Brand and Ross left a series of lewd messages on his voicemail as part of a pre-recorded show, taped on 16 October. |
| The pair made obscene comments about the actor's 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during four separate phone calls. | The pair made obscene comments about the actor's 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during four separate phone calls. |
| 'Brilliant actor' | 'Brilliant actor' |
| Andrew Sachs says he accepts Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's apologies | Andrew Sachs says he accepts Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's apologies |
| Brand said in a statement that he took "complete responsibility" for the incident. | Brand said in a statement that he took "complete responsibility" for the incident. |
| "As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that, given the subsequent coverage, I will stop doing the show," he said. | "As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that, given the subsequent coverage, I will stop doing the show," he said. |
| He added: "I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that, at the core of the rude comments and silly songs, were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big-hearted young woman." | He added: "I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that, at the core of the rude comments and silly songs, were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big-hearted young woman." |
| Earlier, he told reporters waiting outside his home: "I'm sorry that I have upset Mr Sachs." | Earlier, he told reporters waiting outside his home: "I'm sorry that I have upset Mr Sachs." |
| He had presented his Saturday night show since November 2006 and is believed to have been paid more than £200,000 a year. | He had presented his Saturday night show since November 2006 and is believed to have been paid more than £200,000 a year. |
| I am not going to take it anywhere. I'm not out for revenge Andrew Sachs | I am not going to take it anywhere. I'm not out for revenge Andrew Sachs |
| Meanwhile, Ross said in his statement: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused." | Meanwhile, Ross said in his statement: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused." |
| He said he had not issued a statement before because he had intended to apologise "to all those offended" on his Friday night chat show. | He said he had not issued a statement before because he had intended to apologise "to all those offended" on his Friday night chat show. |
| "However, it was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology," it added. | "However, it was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology," it added. |
| During the calls, Ross swore and said Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. | During the calls, Ross swore and said Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. |
| More than 18,000 people have complained to the BBC while watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation. | More than 18,000 people have complained to the BBC while watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation. |
| The corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, has now called a special meeting of its editorial standards committee for Thursday. | The corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, has now called a special meeting of its editorial standards committee for Thursday. |
| Director general Mark Thompson will report management findings to the meeting and tell bosses what action he plans to take. | Director general Mark Thompson will report management findings to the meeting and tell bosses what action he plans to take. |
| 'Breach of privacy' | 'Breach of privacy' |
| Announcing the suspensions in an earlier statement, Mr Thompson said he would be returning from a holiday and would "in the coming days, announce what action we will take". | Announcing the suspensions in an earlier statement, Mr Thompson said he would be returning from a holiday and would "in the coming days, announce what action we will take". |
| This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers Mark Thompson Statement in full | This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers Mark Thompson Statement in full |
| "Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue," he said. | "Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue," he said. |
| "In the meantime, I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned. | "In the meantime, I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned. |
| "This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers." | "This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers." |
| He added his "own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast". | He added his "own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast". |
| BBC One show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was due to have been filmed at BBC Television Centre, west London, later on Wednesday. | BBC One show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was due to have been filmed at BBC Television Centre, west London, later on Wednesday. |
| Guests on the show were to have been Sir David Attenborough, comedian Frank Skinner, US teen singer Miley Cyrus and band The Killers. | Guests on the show were to have been Sir David Attenborough, comedian Frank Skinner, US teen singer Miley Cyrus and band The Killers. |
| A decision has yet to be taken on what should be shown in its place on Friday night. | A decision has yet to be taken on what should be shown in its place on Friday night. |
| Ross's Saturday morning radio show, has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules. | Ross's Saturday morning radio show, has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules. |
| 'Lovely old man' | 'Lovely old man' |
| Georgina Baillie said "justice" had been done over the suspensionsMeanwhile, Ms Baillie told the Sun newspaper's website she was "thrilled" over the suspensions "because justice has been done". | Georgina Baillie said "justice" had been done over the suspensionsMeanwhile, Ms Baillie told the Sun newspaper's website she was "thrilled" over the suspensions "because justice has been done". |
| "Me and my granddad are both really happy," she added. | "Me and my granddad are both really happy," she added. |
| "I'm glad it's all over with, as far as I'm concerned." | "I'm glad it's all over with, as far as I'm concerned." |
| Earlier, she told the paper: "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?" | Earlier, she told the paper: "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?" |
| Brand and Ross were "beyond contempt"," she added. | Brand and Ross were "beyond contempt"," she added. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown criticised the pair for "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour", while Conservative shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a speech on Wednesday that it was "wrong for broadcasters to produce programmes that legitimise negative social behaviour". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown criticised the pair for "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour", while Conservative shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a speech on Wednesday that it was "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". |