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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| BBC prank calls row goes to Trust | BBC prank calls row goes to Trust |
| (30 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. | 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. It was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology Jonathan Ross | 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 |
| 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. |
| 'Stupid error' | 'Stupid error' |
| "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." |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME |
| 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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYIf the BBC's governing body is to make any claim to upholding standards of decency, Mr Ross should be subject to instant dismissalM J Covell, PinnerSend us your comments | |
| "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. |