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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| BBC prank calls row goes to Trust | BBC prank calls row goes to Trust |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The BBC's director general is to meet the corporation's governing body to discuss lewd phone calls made on comic Russell Brand's Radio 2 show. | The BBC's director general is to meet the corporation's governing body to discuss lewd phone calls made on comic Russell Brand's 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. |
| Brand has resigned from Radio 2 and Jonathan Ross has been suspended. | Brand has resigned from Radio 2 and Jonathan Ross has been suspended. |
| The pair made obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during phone calls. | |
| During the meeting on Thursday, the BBC's director of audio and music, Tim Davie, is due to present a preliminary report on the calls to the trust, which represents the interests of licence fee payers. | During the meeting on Thursday, the BBC's director of audio and music, Tim Davie, is due to present a preliminary report on the calls to the trust, which represents the interests of licence fee payers. |
| "Wrest control" | "Wrest control" |
| Mr Thompson will then brief trust members on latest developments, followed by a discussion on what action can be taken. | Mr Thompson will then brief trust members on latest developments, followed by a discussion on what action can be taken. |
| The BBC's media correspondent, Torin Douglas, said the BBC was perceived as having "lost control" of events following the broadcast and the subsequent row, which has now attracted 27,000 complaints. | The BBC's media correspondent, Torin Douglas, said the BBC was perceived as having "lost control" of events following the broadcast and the subsequent row, which has now attracted 27,000 complaints. |
| It was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology Jonathan Ross | It was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology Jonathan Ross |
| The broadcast watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation. | The broadcast watchdog Ofcom has launched its own investigation. |
| "The BBC is now trying to wrest control back," said our correspondent. "People are saying the BBC should have acted a lot quicker." | "The BBC is now trying to wrest control back," said our correspondent. "People are saying the BBC should have acted a lot quicker." |
| 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. | Sachs later said he had "respect" for Brand's decision to step down. |
| 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. | Ross's Saturday morning radio show has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules. |