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BBC broadcasts Brand row apology | BBC broadcasts Brand row apology |
(2 days later) | |
BBC Radio 2 has broadcast an apology about the lewd phone calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. | BBC Radio 2 has broadcast an apology about the lewd phone calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. |
The apology was aired at 1003 GMT when Ross's show would have gone out, and a fuller version was broadcast again at 2113 GMT during Brand's former slot. | |
The BBC Trust said the "serious breach of editorial standards" necessitated an on-air apology to licence fee payers. | The BBC Trust said the "serious breach of editorial standards" necessitated an on-air apology to licence fee payers. |
A second senior Radio 2 executive has now resigned in the wake of the row. | A second senior Radio 2 executive has now resigned in the wake of the row. |
The first on-air apology, approved by the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee, said: "On 18 October, the BBC broadcast an exchange between Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on the Russell Brand show on Radio 2. | |
"This concerned the actor Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. | |
"Some of this exchange was left on the voicemail of Mr Sachs. | "Some of this exchange was left on the voicemail of Mr Sachs. |
"The conversation was grossly offensive and an unacceptable intrusion into the private lives of both Mr Sachs and Ms Baillie. | "The conversation was grossly offensive and an unacceptable intrusion into the private lives of both Mr Sachs and Ms Baillie. |
"It was a serious breach of editorial standards, and should never have been recorded or broadcast. | "It was a serious breach of editorial standards, and should never have been recorded or broadcast. |
"The BBC would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Sachs, Ms Baillie and to our audiences as licence fee payers." | "The BBC would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Sachs, Ms Baillie and to our audiences as licence fee payers." |
This was later amended after Mr Sachs contacted the BBC to say the apology should also mention his wife and family. | |
For the second broadcast, the last sentence was changed to: "The BBC would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr and Mrs Sachs, Ms Baillie and their family, and to our audiences as licence fee payers." | |
A BBC spokesman said: "Mr Sachs asked us to specifically include mention of his wife and family in the second broadcast apology at 9.03 pm [the time at which the Russell Brand Show was broadcast] and we were happy to do this." | |
Music boss resignation | |
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. | 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. |
The pair made obscene comments about the actor's 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during four separate phone calls. | The pair made obscene comments about the actor's 23-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie during four separate phone calls. |
Ross swore and said Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. | Ross swore and said Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. |
The BBC confirmed David Barber's resignation on Friday | |
After thousands of people complained about the broadcast following media reports, Brand said in a statement he took "complete responsibility" for the incident. | After thousands of people complained about the broadcast following media reports, Brand said in a statement he took "complete responsibility" for the incident. |
Ross released his own statement, saying he was "deeply sorry" and regretted the "upset" he had caused. | Ross released his own statement, saying he was "deeply sorry" and regretted the "upset" he had caused. |
Radio 2 executive David Barber, the station's head of specialist music and compliance, who would have been involved in checking the content of programmes prior to transmission, has resigned over the incident. | |
His departure follows that of Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas last month. | |
Brand resigned from Radio 2 in the wake of the row, while Ross was suspended without pay for three months. | |
It is believed his suspension from his radio and TV talk shows and from Film 2008 will cost the entertainer more than £1 million. |