Brand caves in and quits BBC over abuse calls

Published on Wednesday 29 October 2008 21:10

COMEDIAN Russell Brand resigned from his BBC radio show yesterday, hours after the corporation suspended him and fellow presenter Jonathan Ross over their obscene phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs.

Brand said he took "complete responsibility" for the abusive messages the pair left about him sleeping with the 78-year-old actor's granddaughter, later broadcast on his pre-recorded Radio 2 show.

Ross, paid a reported 6 million salary by the BBC, showed no intention of quitting yesterday but issued a grovelling apology, saying: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks caused."

Eleven days after the phone messages were broadcast, Mark Thompson, the BBC's director-general, also finally apologised yesterday as he announced the two men's suspensions. He said it was not appropriate for them to continue broadcasting on the BBC and he would decide on further action "within days".

"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learned and appropriate action taken."

Further resignations are likely as the recriminations surrounding who took the decision to broadcast the pre-recorded show continued.

In the phone calls to Mr Sachs, who played Manuel in the classic comedy series Fawlty Towers, the comedians left several messages on his answer machine about Brand having sex with Georgina Baillie, his 23-year-old granddaughter. They joked the actor might kill himself as a result of the calls.

The show had already been condemned by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and yesterday the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, weighed into the row at an appearance at Glasgow University. He said he would expect Mr Thompson to see resignation letters on his desk from producers.

"What producer would allow this disgusting and pathetic infantilism?" he asked. "Have we really got to the point that humiliation for entertainment is so taken for granted that nobody asks any questions about it? Why do we reward so colossally this toxic immaturity?"

Brand is paid a reported 200,000 a year by the BBC and Ross is its highest-paid presenter on a 6 million salary. The BBC would not say yesterday whether Ross's pay would be stopped during his suspension. If it is not, he would earn 16,000 a day for doing no work.

Sachs, who has kept a low profile throughout the affair, said yesterday of Brand's departure: "I respect his decision. I hope he moves forward, I really hope he does."

Speaking at the door of his home in Kilburn, north London, he added: "I can understand him doing it. I hope he finds a better direction, I really wish him well, if he has done that. It might be a big turning point in his life."

Ms Baillie, who performs with a burlesque group, the Satanic Sluts, and has appeared topless in tabloid newspapers, has reportedly admitted she did sleep with Brand. But she said yesterday that "justice was done" for the presenters' "despicable" behaviour.

She said: "I'm really happy with the investigation. Me and my grandad are both really happy because it could have damaged our reputation permanently. To call me that in public, not only could it damage my relationship with my grandfather, but it could permanently damage my life as well, so I'm just really glad that it's all over with and everyone can move on."

The government's media watchdog Ofcom is also investigating how the calls were broadcast.

Last night, the BBC called off recording the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show at a few hours' notice. But Channel 4 said yesterday it would still air a new episode of Russell Brand's Ponderland show next week. Brand was set to fly to the US yesterday for "work reasons".

In an initial statement issued in his name yesterday, Brand said: "I take complete responsibility and offer nothing but love and contrition and I hope that now Jonathan and the BBC will endure less forensic wrath.

"Hare Krishna."

A markedly more sincere statement issued later said: "I now acknowledge that it was a really, really stupid thing to do, particularly because Andrew Sachs is an actor and comic performer I particularly admire.

"I was being very silly and I got a bit caught up in the moment. It clearly was not my intention to hurt Andrew Sachs or embarrass his granddaughter Georgina…

"I only do that radio show to make people laugh. Obviously it's gone beyond the point where I do that and I'm making people unhappy and angry and sad. So I'd like to not do that radio show any more."

Brand, a former heroin addict, is no stranger to controversy. He was sacked by MTV after turning up for work dressed as Osama bin Laden the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He previously clashed with Rod Stewart when he claimed he had slept with the rocker's daughter, Kimberly.

But one BBC executive suggested the storm may be partly driven by "salary envy and schadenfreude". Rod McKenzie, editor of Newsbeat on Radio 1, said on a BBC blog that the reaction from younger BBC audiences had been broadly supportive of Ross and Brand.

The Scotsman comedy critic and writer, Kate Copstick, backed the pair's suspension and condemned their behaviour.

"What they did was not even funny. I'm expecting more in entertainment from someone paid 6 million a year. The BBC were running scared of Ross and Brand and nobody ever says to them, 'Now shut up, sit down, you're c**p'. They ought to fine the Beeb 6,200,000 and make Ross and Brand pay it."

5.57pm: Brand's first statement

"I have apologised to Andrew Sachs for the rude messages I left on October 18 and he has graciously accepted.

As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show.

I've loved working for the BBC and am very proud of the shows myself, Matt Morgan, Nic Philps, Mr Gee and Noel Gallagher have made and I apologise to all of them for damaging their careers – except Noel, whose band are doing quite well.

I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that at the core of the rude comments and silly songs were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big- hearted young woman.

Apologies are also owed to the loyal listeners of the show who enjoyed its shambolic spirit and anarchy and will be upset that it cannot continue.

I take complete responsibility and offer nothing but love and contrition and I hope that now Jonathan and the BBC will endure less forensic wrath.

Hare Krishna."

7.09pm: Brand's 2nd statement

"When on Saturday October 18 I made those remarks on Andrew Sach's answerphone I didn't think the repercussions would reach the proportion that the have, in fact I obviously didn't think at all. I now acknowledge that it was a really, really stupid thing to do, particularly because Andrew Sachs is an actor and comic performer I particularly admire.

I was being very silly and I got a bit caught up in the moment. It clearly was not my intention to hurt Andrew Sachs or embarrass his granddaughter Georgina.

I have apologised to Andrew Sachs and I believe he has graciously accepted my apology. I have not had the chance to apologise to Georgina yet because I'm a little bit embarrassed and I thought I might make it worse.

And the reason I have not apologised publicly until now was because I didn't want to be seen to be apologising because of the reaction rather than because of the things I said.

I only do that radio show to make people laugh and make people. Obviously it's gone beyond the point where I do that and I'm making people unhappy and angry and sad. So I'd like to not do that radio show any more. I'd also like to say that I've loved the BBC and the opportunity they've given me and I've loved making that show and there are amazing people there, and I think its an absolutely fantastic institution and I'm very proud to have worked for the BBC.

I think it's dead sad that my actions have led to the BBC being attacked in the way that it has been and I take complete and utter responsibility for that.

While I won't be working for the BBC anymore because I think it's best for the BBC, best for the people that have been offended, I'd like to say that Jonathan Ross is a great broadcaster. His TV show is fantastic, his radio show is fantastic. We made a mistake, we crossed the line. I'm not going to work for the BBC anymore because I believe what I did was wrong and I don't want to cause anymore trouble. What Jonathan did, while silly, was not malicious, he is not a malicious man, he is a family man, he is a lovely kind gentleman who did something a little bit silly.

I'd like to thank the BBC for having the trust in me to give me that show in the first place. I'd like to thank all of you. I wish you nothing but love and happiness."

Ross: 'Stupid error of judgment on my part'

JONATHAN Ross last night issued a public apology over the "juvenile and thoughtless" remarks he made to Andrew Sachs.

In a statement issued on his behalf, Ross said he was "deeply sorry" for the upset he had caused.

He said: "It was a stupid error of judgment on my part, and I offer a full apology."

His full statement, issued through the law firm Schillings, added: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on The Russell Brand Show have caused.

"I have not issued a statement previously because it was my intention and desire to offer an apology to all those offended on my Friday night programme. However, it was a stupid error of judgment on my part, and I offer a full apology."

The presenter had earlier apologised directly to Sachs for the remarks made on the radio show and also sent flowers to the actor. Ross, who earns a reported 6 million a year, has not offered to step down from the BBC, although he has been suspended from broadcasting any shows on the network.

The BBC had pulled the plug on last night's recording of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, as well as cancelling the stars' Radio 2 shows scheduled for this weekend.

The BBC refused to confirm whether or not the high-profile star was still being paid.

Blame the producer, say fellow comics

RUSSELL Brand's fellow comedians agreed yesterday that he and presenter Jonathan Ross had gone too far, but blamed BBC editors for allowing the show to air.

"It's not very nice," said Edinburgh veteran Ian Stone. "It was comedy that went a little bit far. Comedians do that. I know. I've done it in the past. But you would hope they had a producer who said, 'Hang on a minute, boys, this is too much'.

"If people have to complain about anyone, it's the producer for not being on top of it. They are comedy performers and sometimes you say things that make you go 'whoops'."

But Kate Copstick, The Scotsman's veteran comedy critic and a fixture on the comedy scene, said: "The main thing is, this is a guy (Ross] who is doing 6 million a year, who thinks he is funnier than God, who thinks he is untouchable, and a bloke (Brand] who once was a really good stand-up comic but is now a professional d***. It was just a prank and nobody's dead, but it was cretinously stupid. If your nine-year-old son did this, you would give him a slap. It's on the BBC and I want more for my money."

Brendon Burns, like several comedians, said he wanted to stay away from a "pointless furore". "It's a non-story. When David Cameron was talking about a 'commission' and 'an investigation', at first I thought he was talking about the credit crunch. Plenty of people are jumping on the bandwagon right now and I don't want to be one of them."

The comedian Jim Jeffries said: "Even as men, they would hate someone to tell their grandfathers about their sex lives. They've picked on one of the most beloved men on British television: not a villain but someone who's never said anything nasty or mean to anyone. They went too far."

But he added: "Whoever put it on the radio should take the blame. It wasn't live."

Comedian Michael Legge said: "I just don't see how the BBC didn't see something like this coming. I don't really think the prank was funny, that's the bottom line, but it was pre-recorded and whoever was the producer was in charge.

"Ross is the world's oldest child.

Whoever thought it was broadcastable? You've got two goons mucking about with a tape-recorder – but it happens to be a BBC recording studio."

BBC chief says sorry for 'gross lapse of taste'

IN A statement confirming the suspension of Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand, BBC director-general Mark Thompson said the broadcast was a "gross lapse of taste" and a "severe offence".

He added: "I would like to add my own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

"BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. However, this is not a marginal case.

"It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view. Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue.

"The investigation I instructed Tim Davie (director of audio and music] to conduct is nearing completion, and I am returning to London to review the findings and announce what action we will take. In the meantime, I have decided it is not appropriate for Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting until I have seen the full report.

"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learned and appropriate action taken.

"I have been asked to report to the trust's editorial standards committee by the end of this week and will discuss with the trust the findings of the report and the actions I propose."

Which senior figure sanctioned it?

SEVERAL other individuals remain in the frame following the decision to broadcast the comments made by Ross and Brand.

Nic Philps, 25, the son of a vicar, was the programme's producer, who would have been expected to fill in a compliance form detailing whether there was any offensive content.

If he judged that there was, he should have justified the full broadcast as well as issuing a warning to listeners before the show began. The form must be counter-signed by a more senior BBC employee, but it is not yet known who did this.

The BBC director-general, Mark Thompson, ultimately takes responsibility for the corporation's output.

He has been ordered by the BBC Trust to explain at an editorial standards committee meeting next week how the offensive material came to be aired.

He will also present a report to the BBC Trust's monthly meeting on 20 November. Sir Michael Lyons, the BBC chairman, would also attend BCC Trust meetings next week and would make a statement "before the end of the week", a spokesman for the corporation said.

Tim Davie, the corporation's director of audio and music, has admitted that the programme was "unacceptable".