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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BBC draws a line under radio row | BBC draws a line under radio row |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The BBC is hoping that it has drawn a line under the furore provoked by the offensive phone calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. | The BBC is hoping that it has drawn a line under the furore provoked by the offensive phone calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. |
| The pair made the calls to the actor, Andrew Sachs, on Brand's Radio 2 show. | The pair made the calls to the actor, Andrew Sachs, on Brand's Radio 2 show. |
| Brand resigned on Wednesday and Ross has been suspended from his BBC shows for three months without pay. | Brand resigned on Wednesday and Ross has been suspended from his BBC shows for three months without pay. |
| However, the BBC Trust has asked for a further report into the matter, and Ofcom is conducting its own investigation, which could mean a fine. | However, the BBC Trust has asked for a further report into the matter, and Ofcom is conducting its own investigation, which could mean a fine. |
| The BBC Trust wants more information on how the programme was approved for broadcast, and who was involved in the final decision. | The BBC Trust wants more information on how the programme was approved for broadcast, and who was involved in the final decision. |
| The BBC radio show saw Brand and Ross make obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. | The BBC radio show saw Brand and Ross make obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. |
| Director-general Mark Thompson said there must be "tight discipline" in future and that "nothing like this must ever happen again". | Director-general Mark Thompson said there must be "tight discipline" in future and that "nothing like this must ever happen again". |
| The Controller of Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, has also quit over the row. We don't feel like we've been picked on undeservedly. It was a huge mistake and we all wish it hadn't happened Chris Evans | The Controller of Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, has also quit over the row. We don't feel like we've been picked on undeservedly. It was a huge mistake and we all wish it hadn't happened Chris Evans |
| She said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret". | She said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret". |
| The Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans was visibly upset when talking about his former boss. | The Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans was visibly upset when talking about his former boss. |
| Ms Douglas was "the best boss in the world", he said. | Ms Douglas was "the best boss in the world", he said. |
| However, he said employees of the station understood the "severity of what's gone on". | However, he said employees of the station understood the "severity of what's gone on". |
| "Andrew Sachs doesn't want to be 78 years old and remembered for this, he wants to be remembered for what he did brilliantly." | "Andrew Sachs doesn't want to be 78 years old and remembered for this, he wants to be remembered for what he did brilliantly." |
| 'Deplorable intrusion' | 'Deplorable intrusion' |
| Thompson also called Ross's actions "utterly unacceptable", adding that the presenter should regard it as a "final warning". class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYWhere are the resignations of the producer who permitted the programme to be broadcast and of Jonathan Ross whose initial comments led to the incident?Martin Underwood, Oxford class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5560&edition=1&ttl=20081031091723">Send us your comments | |
| 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. |
| Thompson met with the BBC Trust to discuss the crisis over lewd phone calls made to Sachs during Brand's programme. | Thompson met with the BBC Trust to discuss the crisis over lewd phone calls made to Sachs during Brand's programme. |
| 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 Sachs and his granddaughter". | It said there had been a "deplorable intrusion" into the privacy of 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. |