Ross and Brand, Comedy or not

[Square Ball]

Right the gist of the story for anyone who doesn't know.

Ross and brand left messages on Andrew Sachs's answer maching stating that Brand had slept with his grand daughter, they done four different messages as a prank.

the question is was it comedy as they said it was, or was it just a pathetic excuse fro comedy?

Personally it was completely over the top, not comedy, not even toilet humour, just an embarrassment. Imagine someone leaving a message stating they has slept with your daughter (if you had one and was over the consensual age) would you be happpy?

[Puckoon]

Who are Ross and brand?

[pintsofguinness]

Don't know much about Brand and was just saying on here last week I was a big fan of Ross but they went way over the line!

Brand's "apology" made things 10 times worse.  Has Ross said anything on it?

[The Real Laoislad]

Whose Andrew Sachs ?

[Puckoon]

Whose  Andrew Sachs's

I dont know - but you've probably nailed his grand daughter....

[The Real Laoislad]

Whose  Andrew Sachs's

I dont know - but you've probably nailed his grand daughter....

Don't be so crude

[Square Ball]

Russel brand is this twat



Andrew sachs



or

[The Real Laoislad]

Ah Manuel from Fawlty Towers

[The Real Laoislad]

Any pictures of his Grand Daughter 

[Puckoon]

Clearly not comedy.

[Square Ball]

Don't know much about Brand and was just saying on here last week I was a big fan of Ross but they went way over the line!

Brand's "apology" made things 10 times worse.  Has Ross said anything on it?

he has written to Sachs with an apology.

Gordon Brown has now issued a statement

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7695951.stm

PM Gordon Brown has criticised Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show.

He said the BBC must take "appropriate action" over a series of prank calls made to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs, and broadcast on 18 October.

The BBC and watchdog Ofcom have both launched investigations.

BBC audio and music director Tim Davie said it was "too early to speculate" on whether Brand or Ross will face action.

"This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour, as is now widely recognised," Mr Brown said.

 The main question is why did they allow this programme to be broadcast, given that it was pre-recorded?

David Cameron


How the story unfolded
"Ofcom have said they will investigate the matter and it is for the BBC, the BBC Trust and Ofcom to take any appropriate action."

The BBC has now received more than 10,000 complaints about the broadcast.

Obscene comments

Sachs, 78, said he 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.

Sachs had been scheduled to appear as a guest on the programme, but was unable to take part due to unforeseen circumstances.

In the first of the phone messages, Ross suddenly swore and said Brand had slept with Ms Baillie.


Georgina Baillie deserved an apology, her grandfather said

Conservative leader David Cameron has called for the BBC to be "transparent" about how the programme came to be broadcast.

"The main question is why did they allow this programme to be broadcast, given that it was pre-recorded?

"So we need to know who made the decision to broadcast it? How high up the editorial chain did it go?"

Ross 'in trouble'

 He made no excuses and he was very frank and open



Sachs on Ross' personal apology

Meanwhile, Mr Sachs has told the BBC that on the day the show was recorded, "the producer called me on my mobile to ask whether they could play the recording in question".

He added: "The signal was poor and I couldn't really hear what was being played down the line to me.

"But I asked whether they would consider allowing me to come in the following week and then the recorded segment would not have to be included."

He said Ross had "personally delivered a letter of apology and some flowers" since the broadcast.


HAVE YOUR SAY My solution is to hold them both to their contracts but just don't let them on air
Joe P, Dunfermline
Send us your comments"He made no excuses and he was very frank and open," he added.

"He is in a lot of trouble and I don't want to pile any more on him."

He has not "heard anything" from Brand - whose spokeswoman earlier told the BBC the comedian had "issued a private apology".

Sachs noted that his granddaughter had not heard from either broadcaster and said both men "owe her an apology".

Unacceptable broadcast

A Radio 2 spokeswoman said on Monday the BBC was "reviewing how this came about" and apologised to listeners for any offence caused.



BBC audio and music director Tim Davie refused to be drawn on possible action
And, on Tuesday, Ofcom launched an investigation into the incident, reminding the BBC of its obligation to "ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context".

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Davie, the BBC's head of audio and music, refused to be drawn on whether Ross or Brand would be disciplined.

"We do offer an unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs and his family," he added.

"We do recognise this was an unacceptable broadcast and I am leading an investigation to ascertain the facts."

Meanwhile, the pair have received strong support from Radio 1 listeners.

Most of those who sent text messages to the youth-orientated station said reaction to the pranks had been "over the top".

[Arthur_Friend]

They're a pair of w*nkers. End of story.

[Puckoon]

Any pictures of his Grand Daughter 

Dont be so crude.

[ExiledGael]

I think a picture of the said granddaughter is called for.
Kind of adds to the story.

[The Real Laoislad]

Any pictures of his Grand Daughter 

Dont be so crude.

What's so crude about that.....?

I think a picture of the said granddaughter is called for.
Kind of adds to the story.

Here here