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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Ross suspended for three months | Ross suspended for three months |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| TV's Jonathan Ross has been suspended from all BBC shows without pay for 12 weeks, following the prank calls row. | TV's Jonathan Ross has been suspended from all BBC shows without pay for 12 weeks, following the prank calls row. |
| Director general Mark Thompson called Ross's actions "utterly unacceptable", adding that the presenter should regard it as a "final warning". | Director general Mark Thompson called Ross's actions "utterly unacceptable", adding that the presenter should regard it as a "final warning". |
| The controller of BBC Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, resigned over the broadcasts involving Ross and Russell Brand. | The controller of BBC Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, resigned over the broadcasts involving Ross and Russell Brand. |
| Douglas said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret". | Douglas said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret". |
| On-air apology | On-air apology |
| Thompson said Ross's three-month suspension was "an exceptional step". It is believed the suspension of pay will cost the entertainer more than £1 million. | Thompson said Ross's three-month suspension was "an exceptional step". It is believed the suspension of pay will cost the entertainer more than £1 million. |
| Mark Thompson on the prank calls controversy | Mark Thompson on the prank calls controversy |
| "He absolutely overstepped the mark," said the director general. | "He absolutely overstepped the mark," said the director general. |
| "A 12-week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair." | "A 12-week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair." |
| "I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened. | "I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened. |
| "We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future," said Thompson. | "We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future," said Thompson. |
| Thompson met with the BBC Trust for several hours on Thursday to discuss the crisis over lewd phone calls made to actor Andrew Sachs during Russell Brand's Radio 2 programme. href="/1/hi/entertainment/7700888.stm">Lesley Douglas' BBC career class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/7700828.stm">Lesley Douglas' resignation letter | |
| The show saw the pair make obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. | The show saw the pair make obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. |
| The Trust has demanded an on-air apology and called for editorial standards in the BBC to be tightened, with particular attention to "high risk" programmes. | The Trust has demanded an on-air apology and called for editorial standards in the BBC to be tightened, with particular attention to "high risk" programmes. |
| In a statement issued after their meeting with Thompson, the Trust said it was "dismayed" that the broadcasts "fell so far short of audience expectations". | In a statement issued after their meeting with Thompson, the Trust said it was "dismayed" that the broadcasts "fell so far short of audience expectations". |
| It said there had been a "deplorable intrusion" into the privacy of Mr Sachs and his granddaughter." | It said there had been a "deplorable intrusion" into the privacy of Mr Sachs and his granddaughter." |
| They issued an unreserved apology to licence fee payers, as well as to the Fawlty Towers actor and his family. | They issued an unreserved apology to licence fee payers, as well as to the Fawlty Towers actor and his family. |
| 'Painful week' | 'Painful week' |
| Douglas, who took up her post as controller in 2003, admitted in her resignation letter that it had been a "painful week" for Radio 2. | Douglas, who took up her post as controller in 2003, admitted in her resignation letter that it had been a "painful week" for Radio 2. |
| She said: "I am proud of what we have achieved together over the years and I shall miss you all."Russell Brand resigned from his Radio 2 show | She said: "I am proud of what we have achieved together over the years and I shall miss you all."Russell Brand resigned from his Radio 2 show |
| "The events of the last two weeks happened on my watch. I believe it is right that I take responsibility for what has happened," she wrote. | "The events of the last two weeks happened on my watch. I believe it is right that I take responsibility for what has happened," she wrote. |
| In his response, Thompson said the decision had been accepted with "real sadness". | In his response, Thompson said the decision had been accepted with "real sadness". |
| Speaking on the BBC News Channel, he said: "Given the scale of the BBC output it is inevitable from time to time programmes will encounter difficulties, people will make editorial misjudgements." | Speaking on the BBC News Channel, he said: "Given the scale of the BBC output it is inevitable from time to time programmes will encounter difficulties, people will make editorial misjudgements." |
| "The ultimate editorial responsibility for BBC programmes lies with producers and editorial managers." | "The ultimate editorial responsibility for BBC programmes lies with producers and editorial managers." |
| Audience priority | Audience priority |
| Alex Lester, Radio 2's weekday morning presenter, has will replace Brand as the station's new Saturday late night host, following his resignation on Wednesday. | Alex Lester, Radio 2's weekday morning presenter, has will replace Brand as the station's new Saturday late night host, following his resignation on Wednesday. |
| BBC One's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross has been cancelled, and the 1994 film Speed will be shown in its place. | BBC One's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross has been cancelled, and the 1994 film Speed will be shown in its place. |
| Ross's Saturday morning radio show has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules. His regular slot will be occupied by Richard Allinson. | Ross's Saturday morning radio show has also been pulled from Radio 2's schedules. His regular slot will be occupied by Richard Allinson. |
| A Sunday morning repeat of Ross's Film 2008 is being substituted with an edition of natural history programme Wild. However, a decision about what will replace Wednesday's show has not yet been taken. | A Sunday morning repeat of Ross's Film 2008 is being substituted with an edition of natural history programme Wild. However, a decision about what will replace Wednesday's show has not yet been taken. |
| Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio & Music, said: "What is important now is that we remain focussed on creating great programmes for our listeners which remains, as always, the number one priority of the group." | Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio & Music, said: "What is important now is that we remain focussed on creating great programmes for our listeners which remains, as always, the number one priority of the group." |
| Ross will return to work in mid-January. | Ross will return to work in mid-January. |