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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| BBC 'must be firmer on excesses' | BBC 'must be firmer on excesses' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The BBC must be "firmer on excesses" in the wake of the Radio 2 offensive phone call row, BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons has said. | The BBC must be "firmer on excesses" in the wake of the Radio 2 offensive phone call row, BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons has said. |
| The calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs "demonstrated the need for stricter controls", he said. | The calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs "demonstrated the need for stricter controls", he said. |
| But, he added, the BBC must "be careful we do not retrench to a position where we're no longer willing to take risks". | But, he added, the BBC must "be careful we do not retrench to a position where we're no longer willing to take risks". |
| Brand has resigned, while Ross has been suspended for three months without pay. | Brand has resigned, while Ross has been suspended for three months without pay. |
| The pair made a series of offensive calls to Sachs, 78, on Brand's Radio 2 show which included obscene comments about the Fawlty Towers actor's 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. | The pair made a series of offensive calls to Sachs, 78, on Brand's Radio 2 show which included obscene comments about the Fawlty Towers actor's 23-year-old granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. |
| The incident led Lesley Douglas, controller of Radio 2, to tender her resignation on Thursday. | The incident led Lesley Douglas, controller of Radio 2, to tender her resignation on Thursday. |
| The BBC is hoping to draw a line under the furore, which as of last night had attracted 37,500 complaints. | The BBC is hoping to draw a line under the furore, which as of last night had attracted 37,500 complaints. |
| 'Courage' | 'Courage' |
| The Trust, the BBC's governing body, has asked for a further report into the matter. | The Trust, the BBC's governing body, has asked for a further report into the matter. |
| Jonathan Ross has been suspended for three months It wants more information on how the programme was approved for broadcast and who was involved in the final decision. | Jonathan Ross has been suspended for three months It wants more information on how the programme was approved for broadcast and who was involved in the final decision. |
| Sir Michael, however, said he was satisfied with how the matter has been handled by Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general. | Sir Michael, however, said he was satisfied with how the matter has been handled by Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general. |
| Speaking on the BBC Breakfast programme, he said Mr Thompson had acted "with courage" and had the full confidence of the Trust. | Speaking on the BBC Breakfast programme, he said Mr Thompson had acted "with courage" and had the full confidence of the Trust. |
| "The BBC takes its responsibilities over standards seriously and recognises what happened was completely unacceptable." | "The BBC takes its responsibilities over standards seriously and recognises what happened was completely unacceptable." |
| Ofcom is conducting its own investigation into the row, which could mean a fine. | Ofcom is conducting its own investigation into the row, which could mean a fine. |
| 'Final warning' | 'Final warning' |
| Mr Thompson, meanwhile, has said there must be "tight discipline" in the future and that "nothing like this must ever happen again". | Mr Thompson, meanwhile, has said there must be "tight discipline" in the future and that "nothing like this must ever happen again". |
| Russell Brand resigned from his Radio 2 showHe also called Ross's actions "utterly unacceptable", adding that the presenter should regard his three-month suspension as a "final warning". | |
| He said the suspension - which will reportedly cost the entertainer more than £1 million - was "an exceptional step". | He said the suspension - which will reportedly cost the entertainer more than £1 million - was "an exceptional step". |
| Mr Thompson met with the BBC Trust on Thursday to discuss the crisis. | Mr Thompson met with the BBC Trust on Thursday to discuss the crisis. |
| The Trust 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 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 Mr 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 Mr 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". | |
| 'Huge mistake' | 'Huge mistake' |
| They issued an unreserved apology to licence fee payers, as well as to Sachs. | They issued an unreserved apology to licence fee payers, as well as to Sachs. |
| Lesley Douglas began her career at the BBC in 1986Ms Douglas said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret". | Lesley Douglas began her career at the BBC in 1986Ms Douglas said the decision to leave her job was "mine and mine alone" and was made with "enormous regret". |
| Her departure dismayed many of her colleagues, one of whom - DJ Chris Evans - called her "the best boss in the world". | Her departure dismayed many of her colleagues, one of whom - DJ Chris Evans - called her "the best boss in the world". |
| 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". |
| "We don't feel like we've been picked on undeservedly," he said after his show on Thursday. "It was a huge mistake and we all wish it hadn't happened. | "We don't feel like we've been picked on undeservedly," he said after his show on Thursday. "It was a huge mistake and we all wish it hadn't happened. |
| "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." |