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BBC to discuss prank phone calls | BBC to discuss prank phone calls |
(10 minutes later) | |
The BBC's director general is to meet representatives of licence fee payers to discuss lewd phone calls made on a Radio 2 show. | The BBC's director general is to meet representatives of licence fee payers to discuss lewd phone calls made on a Radio 2 show. |
Mark Thompson will brief the BBC Trust on a preliminary inquiry into how the calls to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs came to be broadcast. | Mark Thompson will brief the BBC Trust on a preliminary inquiry into how the calls to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs came to be broadcast. |
Russell Brand has resigned from Radio 2 and Jonathan Ross has been suspended. | Russell Brand has resigned from Radio 2 and Jonathan Ross has been suspended. |
The pair made obscene comments about Sach's 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during phone calls. | The pair made obscene comments about Sach's 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during phone calls. |
Actor Sachs, 78, 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. | Actor Sachs, 78, 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. |
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. |
Sachs later said he had "respect" for Brand's decision to step down. It was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology Jonathan Ross | |
Brand, who is believed to have been paid more than £200,000 a year for his Saturday-night show, said in a statement that he took "complete responsibility" for the incident. | Brand, who is believed to have been paid more than £200,000 a year for his Saturday-night show, 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. |
"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." | "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." |
'Stupid error' | 'Stupid error' |
Meanwhile, Ross said in a 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 a 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. |
BBC One show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, which was due to have been filmed at BBC Television Centre, west London, on Wednesday, has been cancelled. | BBC One show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, which was due to have been filmed at BBC Television Centre, west London, on Wednesday, has been cancelled. |
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. | |
More than 27,000 people have complained to the BBC while watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation. | More than 27,000 people have complained to the BBC while watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation. |